Pakistan's Obsession with India Surfaces at UNSC Maritime Security Debate

UN Security Council Discussion on Maritime Security

United Nations: During a recent discussion on maritime security at the UN Security Council, Pakistan attempted to divert the conversation towards the Indus River issue, showcasing its ongoing fixation with India, regardless of the topic at hand.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, indirectly referenced India as 'one major country,' accusing it of misusing shared natural resources, including transboundary rivers, in violation of treaties and good neighborly principles.

Following a tragic incident last month where 26 individuals were killed in Pahalgam by The Resistance Front, a terrorist group supported by Pakistan, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty.

In response to this action, Ahmad claimed that India was exploiting its geographical advantages to the detriment of Pakistan, the lower riparian state.

By avoiding direct references to India, Ahmad aimed to prevent India from exercising its right to reply and countering his claims.

India's Permanent Representative, P. Harish, chose to disregard Ahmad's comments during the session.

Ahmad also expressed dissatisfaction over Pakistan's exclusion from the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), a coalition of 23 nations focused on maritime cooperation and counter-terrorism.

He lamented that the 'coercive diplomacy' of 'the one major country' has systematically marginalized neighboring states from regional maritime security initiatives, including IORA.

India, which initiated the formation of IORA, opposes Pakistan's membership due to its ties to terrorism. Ahmad further criticized India's naval expansion, noting Pakistan's reliance on military support from China and Turkey, as it lacks the capability to maintain an aircraft carrier.