UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that India and Pakistan will bilaterally resolve issues over water-sharing.
“We will take a look at the issue of water. Obviously, we hope it’s something that the two parties can resolve themselves,” Ban’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the daily press briefing here yesterday.
Read more: India’s water cannot be allowed to go to Pakistan: PM Modi
Last week, during a Security Council debate on water, peace and security, Ban had cited the Indus Water Treaty signed by India and Pakistan as well as other similar agreements “as instruments promoting stability and peace” and said “shared water resources often generated cooperation”.
However, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi had warned against the use of water as an instrument of coercion or war.
She had said the 1960 Indus Water Treaty is an example of what can be achieved through bilateral agreements but also a case study of what could wrong if such agreements are not honoured or threatened with abrogation by a state party.
Separately, Ban had also expressed deep concern last week over the deterioration of the situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir in recent days, saying he “trusts” India and Pakistan can find “common ground” and work towards a sustainable peace.
The UN chief had called on all involved to prioritise the restoration of calm and stability in order to prevent any further escalation and loss of life.
Read more: Pakistan warns against using water for coercion; stresses respect for river accords
