India on Thursday described the Indus Waters Treaty as outdated and no longer suited to present-day realities while strongly criticising Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). New Delhi stated that a country that continues to support terrorism cannot expect to enjoy the benefits of cooperation that are based on goodwill and friendly relations.

The remarks were made by Anupama Singh, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, during India’s right of reply at the 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Responding to allegations raised by Pakistan, Singh accused Islamabad of repeatedly bringing bilateral issues to international platforms and using such forums for political purposes.

Speaking on the Indus Waters Treaty, Singh reaffirmed India’s position and questioned Pakistan’s expectations regarding continued cooperation. She said, “Our position on the Indus Water Treaty is well known. It defies logic that a state which exports terror as an instrument of policy continues to demand the privileges of cooperation predicated on goodwill and friendship. It is equally undeniable that the treaty is now outdated.”

She further argued that no technical arrangement can remain unchanged forever. According to India, a treaty signed in 1960 cannot be treated as a permanent entitlement that remains unaffected by accountability, changing circumstances, and evolving realities. India maintained that agreements must adapt to current conditions rather than remain frozen in time.

India had earlier placed the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people lost their lives. The Government of India stated that the suspension would continue until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ends its support for cross-border terrorism. New Delhi has repeatedly linked the future of bilateral cooperation to Islamabad’s actions against terrorism.

According to the Central government, Pakistan is heavily dependent on the Indus River system. Around 80 per cent of irrigation across the country’s 16 million hectares of agricultural land relies on these waters. The river system also accounts for nearly 93 per cent of Pakistan’s total water use, highlighting its importance to the country’s economy and agriculture.

During her address, Singh also urged Pakistan to focus on resolving its internal problems instead of making allegations against India. She criticised Islamabad for repeatedly targeting India at international forums and suggested that greater attention should be paid to domestic governance issues.

“Instead of coveting Indian territories, Pakistan would serve itself and its people far better by putting its own house in order. Its seasonal theatrics in this council have long outlived any novelty,” she said.

The Indian diplomat also targeted Pakistan’s record on terrorism. Referring to the country as a “Frankenstein state”, she alleged that Pakistan had nurtured extremist groups and later suffered the consequences of its own policies. India has consistently maintained that terrorism remains one of the biggest obstacles to peace and stability in the region.

Singh further pointed to statements made by Pakistan’s leadership to support India’s position. “This is the country where the sitting Defence Minister boasts of hosting, training and deploying terrorists as a state policy, and yet Pakistan calls itself a victim of terrorism,” she said.

India also strongly rejected comments made by Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding Jammu and Kashmir. Singh dismissed the allegations as baseless and accused Pakistan of spreading misinformation to divert attention from its own challenges.

“Pakistan’s propaganda is designed to mask its domestic failures and support for terrorism,” she said.

Reiterating New Delhi’s long-standing position on Jammu and Kashmir, Singh asserted that the region remains an inseparable part of India. She firmly rejected any claims questioning India’s sovereignty over the territory.

“Was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India”, Singh said while referring to Jammu and Kashmir. She further stated that the only unresolved issue related to the region was Pakistan’s “illegal occupation” of Indian territory.

India’s intervention at the UNHRC once again highlighted its concerns regarding terrorism, cross-border hostility, and developments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Through its response, New Delhi rejected Pakistan’s allegations and reiterated that meaningful cooperation can only be built on trust, accountability, and a clear commitment to ending support for terrorism.