On 22 July 2026, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, responded to Pakistan’s accusations at the UN Security Council open debate on natural‑resource governance. India rejected Pakistan’s remarks that New Delhi was “weaponising water” and reaffirmed that cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cannot be expected while cross‑border terrorism is used as a state policy.
Key Developments
- India labelled Pakistan’s narrative as a “false narrative” and warned that mutual trust is impossible under ongoing terrorism.
- India reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral, inalienable part of the country.
- India highlighted that illicit exploitation of natural resources can fund armed groups, stressing the need for transparent, sovereign‑led governance.
- Pakistan’s claim that the IWT suspension threatens the livelihoods of over 240 million Pakistanis was dismissed as illegal.
Important Facts
The IWT allocates the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan. India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025, arguing that cooperation cannot continue amid terrorism.
During his speech, Ambassador Parvathaneni warned that illicit exploitation of resources can f