Pakistan has warned against using shared water resources as a tool of political pressure, stressing that transboundary rivers must be managed through cooperation and mutual responsibility.
Pakistan’s First Secretary Adeel Mumtaz Khokhar made the remarks during the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, where members considered a resolution on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation.
The resolution, presented by Germany and Spain, was adopted without a vote. Pakistan said it had played an active role in retaining a reference to transboundary water cooperation in the final text.
Pakistan raises concerns over Indus Waters Treaty
Khokhar highlighted Pakistan’s concerns over India’s actions concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, describing them as a “weaponisation of water”.
He warned that water should not be turned into an instrument of coercion, political leverage or conflict.
“Where water is shared, responsibilities are also shared,” Khokhar said.
He stressed that cooperation between neighbouring countries over shared water resources was not a favour or concession but a shared responsibility.
“No upstream country can use water as a tool of political pressure or influence,” he said.
Pakistan maintained that transboundary water cooperation was directly connected to human rights because access to safe drinking water and sanitation depends on responsible management of shared water resources.
India opposed reference to transboundary cooperation
According to Pakistan, India had sought to remove the reference to transboundary water cooperation from the resolution, arguing that the issue fell outside the scope of a text focused on human rights.
Pakistan disagreed, maintaining that cooperation over shared rivers has direct implications for the availability of safe water and sanitation.
Islamabad also thanked member states for retaining the reference in the final resolution.
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The dispute comes amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and India over the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the use of the shared Indus River system.
Pakistan has repeatedly opposed any unilateral action affecting its treaty-based water rights and has warned against turning water resources into a source of political pressure.
UN resolution adopted without a vote
The official UN record identifies the measure as draft resolution A/HRC/63/L.34, titled “The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation”.
Germany and Spain submitted the draft, while Khokhar was among the representatives who spoke during its consideration.
Two proposed amendments, L.39 and L.40, were rejected before the main resolution was adopted without a vote.
Both amendments received 10 votes in favour, 17 against and 9 abstentions.
The resolution was considered during the Human Rights Council’s 63rd session, which was held from September 7 to October 7, 2026.
Pakistan’s intervention placed its dispute with India over shared water resources within the broader UN discussion on human rights, highlighting Islamabad’s position that responsible transboundary water cooperation is essential to ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
