Pakistan warns UN against water weaponisation

GENEVA: Pakistan has urged the United Nations to prevent the use of shared water resources as a means of political pressure, warning that water must not become a tool of coercion or conflict.

Pakistan’s First Secretary Adeel Mumtaz Khokhar made the remarks during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council while the body considered a resolution on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation.

The resolution, introduced by Germany and Spain, was adopted without a vote. Pakistan played an active role in ensuring that the final text retained a reference to cooperation over transboundary water resources.

Islamabad said India had sought to remove the reference, arguing that cooperation over shared waters was beyond the scope of a resolution focused on human rights. Pakistan rejected that position, maintaining that transboundary water cooperation is directly connected to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Addressing the council, Khokhar stressed that countries sharing water resources also share responsibilities.

“Where water is shared, responsibilities are also shared,” he said, emphasising that cooperation between neighbouring states should be viewed as a mutual responsibility rather than a concession.

Khokhar warned that no upstream country should use water to exert political pressure or influence over a downstream state. He called for shared water resources to be managed through cooperation, mutual responsibility and established international principles.

The Pakistani representative also criticised India’s unilateral actions concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, describing them as the “weaponisation of water”. He said water should never be turned into an instrument of coercion, political leverage or warfare.

Pakistan welcomed the decision to retain the reference to transboundary water cooperation in the final resolution.

The UN document 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 addressed the council during its consideration.

Two proposed amendments, L.39 and L.40, were rejected before the main resolution was adopted. Each amendment received 10 votes in favour, 17 against and nine abstentions.

The resolution was considered during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, which was held from September 7 to October 7, 2026.