'Lost 20,000 lives in Pak-sponsored terror attacks': India tells UNSC why it suspended Indus Waters Treaty

India launched a scathing attack against Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council on Friday and said the Indus Waters Treaty was suspended owing to Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorism. India said it was Pakistan that violated the longstanding water treaty.

 

Calling out Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism, the most recent being the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India charged Pakistan continues to endanger the safety of critical infrastructure and civilian lives.  

 

Clarifying why India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India to the UN said at the  Arria formula meeting, "India entered into the Indus Water Treaty 65 years ago in good faith. Pakistan has violated its spirit by inflicting three wars and thousands of terror attacks on India. More than 20,000 Indian lives have been lost, the most recent being the terror attack in Pahalgam. India has shown extraordinary patience and magnanimity throughout. Pakistan's state-sponsored cross-border terrorism seeks to hold hostage the lives of civilians and economic prosperity," ANI reported.

 

Harish said despite advancements in dam technology, Pakistan refused to engage in talks with India and continued to block any changes to this infrastructure permissible under the Treaty. " In 2012, terrorists attacked the Tulbul Navigation Project in Jammu and Kashmir, continuing to endanger the safety of our projects and civilian lives. India has asked Pakistan to discuss the modifications of the Treaty in the past two years. But Pakistan’s obstructionist approach continues to prevent the exercise," he added. India said that the treaty will remain in abeyance until "Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border terrorism." 

 

During the UNSC meeting on Friday, India hit back at Pakistan for raising Kashmir issue and the recent conflict between the neighbouring nations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. India charged it has experienced decades of Pakistani-sponsored terrorist attacks across its borders.

 

"The victims of Pakistani terrorism have been predominantly civilians, since its objective has been to attack our prosperity, progress and morale. For such a nation to even participate in a discussion on protection of civilians is an affront to the international community," Harish said.

 

 

 

India