India at UN: Cooperation under Indus Waters Treaty cannot be expected amid Pakistan's cross-border terrorism
UPSC / SSC current affairs note
Why in news
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, stated at a UN Security Council debate that cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be expected while Pakistan uses cross-border terrorism as state policy. He also reaffirmed India's position on Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an integral part of India, and accused Pakistan of misusing the UN platform to peddle false narratives.
Background
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of waters from the Indus River system. India has previously raised concerns about Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism affecting bilateral cooperation. The UN Security Council debate on 'Natural Resources Governance' provided the context for India's remarks.
Key facts
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, spoke at the UNSC High-Level Open Debate on 'Natural Resources Governance: The Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity'.
Harish stated that cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be expected without mutual trust and goodwill, given Pakistan's use of cross-border terrorism as state policy.
He reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir 'has always been, is, and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India'.
Harish accused Pakistan of misusing the UN platform to peddle false narratives, and said India was compelled to respond to Pakistan's intervention.
He described the only outstanding issue regarding Jammu and Kashmir as 'the naked aggression and illegal occupation of India's sovereign territory by Pakistan'.
India's position on the Indus Waters Treaty remains clear and consistent, linking cooperation to the broader security environment.
Prelims pointers
- Indus Waters Treaty: signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank
- UN Security Council (UNSC): principal organ of the UN responsible for international peace and security
- Permanent Representative of India to the UN: Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish
- Jammu and Kashmir: Union Territory of India since 2019
Mains angles
- GS2: India and its neighborhood – bilateral relations with Pakistan, Indus Waters Treaty disputes
- GS2: International organizations – UNSC debates and India's stance on cross-border terrorism
- GS2: Issues related to Jammu and Kashmir – India's constitutional position and Pakistan's claims