India brands Pakistan as ‘global epicentre of terror’ at UN as tensions escalate

In a forceful address to the United Nations on May 24, India’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish condemned Pakistan as a "global epicentre of terror," holding it responsible for over 20,000 Indian lives lost to cross-border terrorism over the past four decades.

The strong rebuke came amid escalating tensions following the deadly terror attack last month in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, which claimed 26 lives and triggered New Delhi’s suspension of the landmark 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty.

Ambassador Harish dismissed Pakistan’s recent attempts at the UN to portray the treaty as a humanitarian agreement, stating clearly that the treaty, signed in 1960 to govern shared water resources, would remain “in abeyance” until Pakistan unequivocally ends its support for terrorism targeting India.

“India entered the Indus Waters Treaty in good faith, built on friendship and cooperation,” Harish declared. “Yet Pakistan has repeatedly violated this spirit — waging three wars, supporting thousands of terror attacks, and blocking critical updates to dam infrastructure necessary for safety and climate adaptation.”

The Indian envoy outlined Pakistan’s longstanding pattern of sabotage, referencing a 2012 terrorist attack on the Tulbul navigation project and the persistent obstruction of infrastructure upgrades despite India’s repeated calls for dialogue. He emphasized that Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism threatens not only Indian civilians but also religious harmony and economic development.

“The treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for cross-border terrorism,” Harish warned, underscoring the link between water security and national security.

The Pahalgam attack, which exposed “cross-border linkages,” had already heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. In response, India launched “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, targeting terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with missile and drone strikes, which India successfully repelled before counterstriking Pakistani airfields. A fragile ceasefire took effect on May 10.

As diplomatic and military strains mount, the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty marks a significant escalation in India-Pakistan relations, intertwining water rights with the larger geopolitical conflict. Ambassador Harish’s remarks at the UN reflect India’s growing frustration with Pakistan’s persistent provocations and its demand for a new framework free of terrorism.