Pakistan seeks UNSC action on IWT

Pakistan on Thursday called on the United Nations Security Council to take up the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India, warning Delhi's continued unilateral action could have "grave implications for regional peace, security and humanitarian conditions" across South Asia.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, handed over a letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Security Council President Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei of Bahrain.

A statement issued by Pakistan's Mission said the letter drew the UNSC's attention to the matter "one year after India's illegal decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance" and highlighted the move's "grave peace and security, and humanitarian consequences".

The Security Council was urged "to take cognisance of the alarming situation and call upon India to restore the full implementation of IWT, resume all Treaty-mandated cooperation and data-sharing without delay, desist from any form of water coercion, and comply fully with its international obligations in good faith".

The statement said Ambassador Ahmad also briefed the Security Council president on "the regurgitation of baseless allegations and propaganda by India at a time when Pakistan is engaged in serious mediation efforts to promote regional and international peace and security".

He further underscored that "the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute - a longstanding item on the Security Council's agenda - was the root cause of instability in South Asia that necessitated a just and lasting settlement in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people".