The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have taken a new turn with the escalation of their water dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty. The treaty, signed in 1960 to govern the sharing of the Indus Basin's water, has been at the center of a long-standing issue between the two nations.
India has accused Pakistan of misusing the global forum by referencing the treaty at a UN conference, with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla leading the Indian delegation in making these allegations during a meeting with Pakistani counterparts. This move comes after India suspended the treaty as part of punitive measures against Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people on April 22.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed regret over India's decision to suspend the treaty, warning that water cannot be used as a weapon. However, Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh countered this by stating that Islamabad's support for cross-border terrorism is the real obstacle to the treaty's implementation.
The dispute highlights the deep-seated tensions between the two nations, which have been exacerbated by issues related to the Indus Waters Treaty.