Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 3, ID with Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation, at the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council (08 September – 08 October 2025), delivered by Ms. Anupama Singh, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India
Geneva, 15 September 2025
Mr. Vice-President,
We are compelled to express our deep concern over the persistent and deliberate attempts by a particular delegation to politicize the proceedings of this Council. Such actions not only undermine the integrity of this platform but also seek to deflect attention from the very real issues.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, was concluded in a spirit of goodwill and friendship. But the world of 1960 is not the world of today. The grim reality of relentless, state-sponsored cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan fundamentally erodes the environment required for honoring treaty obligations.
Mr. Vice- President,
Moreover, the escalating impact of climate change, advancements in technology, and the growing imperative for sustainable, clean energy compel a serious re-evaluation of the Treaty’s relevance and applicability in today’s context.
Mr. Vice-President,
A party that consistently and willfully violates the core tenets of a treaty should not accuse others of non-compliance.
This Council must not allow itself to be used as a platform for diversion and distortion. It must instead recognize that lasting cooperation is rooted in trust—not terror
I Thank you.
