The Indus Waters Treaty dispute has reached the United Nations as Pakistan formally urged the UN Security Council to intervene and press India to restore the 1960 water-sharing agreement. The move highlights rising diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistan submitted a letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar to the president of the United Nations Security Council, warning of what it described as “grave” security, environmental, and humanitarian risks affecting nearly 240 million people.
The Indus Waters Treaty dispute centers on India’s reported decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Pakistan has termed the move illegal and called for immediate restoration of treaty obligations, including data sharing and water flow cooperation.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, today handed over a letter addressed by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister @MIshaqDar50 to the President of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei of Bahrain.
The letter draws… pic.twitter.com/JRNhsPpfc6
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) April 23, 2026
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations delivered the letter in New York, emphasizing that India must comply with its international commitments under the principle of pacta sunt servanda, which requires states to honor treaties in good faith.
Islamabad also raised concerns over what it described as India’s “baseless allegations” and propaganda, arguing that such narratives are being used to justify unilateral actions in the ongoing Indus Waters Treaty dispute.
The Pakistani side further linked the broader instability to the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir issue, stating that it remains a core cause of regional tensions and requires a settlement in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
The Indus Waters Treaty dispute continues to escalate after India reportedly suspended cooperation following security tensions in 2025. Pakistan maintains that any disruption of the treaty threatens agriculture, water security, and regional stability.
