Islamabad: United Nations Special Rapporteurs and independent experts have criticised India's military actions during the May 2025 conflict with Pakistan, stating that New Delhi's conduct may have violated the UN Charter, international law, and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), while also causing civilian harm and increasing the risk of wider regional confrontation.
In a report dated October 16 and made public on December 15, the UN experts examined India's actions on May 7, when Indian forces allegedly carried out missile strikes inside Pakistani territory. The experts said the unilateral use of force appeared to breach the UN Charter and noted that India did not formally notify the UN Security Council, a requirement under international law.
The report stated that the strikes hit populated areas, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, and damaged religious sites, including mosques. While condemning the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, the experts said there was insufficient evidence to support India's claims of Pakistani state involvement.
The legal assessment said international law provides 'no separate, recognised right to use unilateral military force for counter-terrorism,' warning that such actions may violate the right to life and escalate conflict. The experts added that if India's conduct amounted to an armed attack, Pakistan would retain the right to self-defence, describing the strikes as a serious violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.
On the Indus Waters Treaty, the report expressed grave concern over India's announcement to keep the treaty 'held in abeyance,' stating that any obstruction or threat to river flows could endanger the basic rights of millions in Pakistan, including access to water, food, health, livelihoods, and development.
The experts stressed that water must not be used as political or economic leverage and said the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally. They termed India's phrasing legally ambiguous and said New Delhi had failed to invoke any valid treaty-law provisions for suspension, declaring any unilateral move unlawful.
The report said disputes must be resolved through mechanisms provided in the treaty, rejecting India's claims of 'material breach' and alleged cross-border terrorism as weak legal grounds. It added that population growth or energy demands do not meet the strict legal threshold for a 'fundamental change of circumstances.'
According to the experts, countermeasures do not remove human-rights obligations and must be temporary, proportional, reversible, and preceded by notice and negotiations. Permanent suspension or termination of the treaty, they said, is not justified under international law.
The experts attributed the deterioration in treaty engagement to India, noting that meetings of the Indus Commission have not been held since 2022 and citing obstacles in data sharing and dispute settlement as contrary to the treaty's intent.
President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed the report, saying it reinforced Pakistan's long-standing position that unilateral use of force across borders violates the UN Charter and Pakistan's sovereignty. He said bypassing treaty dispute-resolution mechanisms and actions affecting water flows risk serious human-rights consequences.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said UN experts had confirmed Pakistan's stance that the Indus Waters Treaty is a cornerstone of peace and stability in South Asia. He stated that India unilaterally suspended the treaty in April 2025, withheld essential data, and released water into the Chenab River without prior notice, exposing Pakistan to flood and drought risks.
Dar added that unusual fluctuations in the Chenab were recorded between April 20 and May 21, and again from December 7 to 15, and accused India of violating international law and Article 26 of the Vienna Convention. He also cited projects such as Kishanganga and Ratle as inconsistent with the treaty's technical provisions.
The report warned that any weakening of the Indus Waters Treaty could destabilise the entire region and called on both countries to adhere strictly to international law and agreed dispute-resolution mechanisms.