UN Report Criticizes India Over Military Strikes and Indus Water Treaty breaches

A new United Nations report has strongly criticized India for its military actions against Pakistan in May and its handling of bilateral disputes. UN human rights experts said India violated international law and risked escalating a major conflict.

The report addresses multiple issues, including cross-border strikes, civilian harm, and non-compliance with the Indus Waters Treaty.

Military Strikes Condemned

The report focuses on India’s strikes inside Pakistan on May 7. UN experts called the attacks illegal and a violation of the United Nations Charter. They also noted that India failed to notify the UN Security Council about the strikes.

According to the report, populated areas were hit, causing civilian casualties and injuries. Religious sites, including mosques, were reportedly damaged. While the experts condemned the preceding Pahalgam attack, they found little evidence that Pakistan was involved in the incident that India cited as justification for its strikes.

The report emphasized that international law does not grant India a unilateral right to use force for counter-terrorism. Experts warned that such actions violate the fundamental right to life and increase the risk of a larger military confrontation. The report also affirmed that Pakistan retains the right to self-defense, calling India’s strikes a “serious violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.”

Indus Waters Treaty Violations

The report extended criticism to India’s handling of the Indus Waters Treaty, a key agreement governing water sharing between the two countries. Experts said India avoided arbitration and ignored established dispute-resolution mechanisms. They called on India to act in good faith, respect Pakistan’s rights, and prevent human rights violations through water obstruction.

UN Special Rapporteurs also sent India a detailed set of questions, asking for evidence supporting its allegations, plans to compensate civilian victims, commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty, and intentions to resolve issues in Jammu and Kashmir peacefully.

India was given 60 days to respond. The report notes that no response was received, prompting UN experts to release their findings publicly. The document represents a formal, unanswered critique from the UN, increasing diplomatic pressure on India to address these concerns.