India’s continued aggression and deliberate violations against Pakistan pose a grave threat to regional peace and are in clear defiance of settled principles of international law. From cross-border military provocations and ceasefire breaches to targeted attacks on civilian populations, religious places, and critical infrastructure—including water flows—India’s actions amount not only to hostile conduct but also to recognized acts of international aggression. In such circumstances, Pakistan’s right to defend itself is not a political question—it is a firmly established legal right protected under the United Nations Charter, International Humanitarian Law, and global conventions.

Article 51 of the United Nations Charter unambiguously affirms that: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations…”

This provision forms the cornerstone of a sovereign state’s right to respond lawfully to aggression. It empowers Pakistan, or any state, to take necessary defensive action when faced with an armed attack, pending action by the UN Security Council. The right is inherent, meaning it exists with or without express permission, and may be exercised immediately when peace is shattered by unlawful force.

In April and May 2025, India orchestrated yet another false flag operation to fabricate a pretext for cross-border military escalation against Pakistan

False Flag Aggression and India’s Recent Hostilities in 2025: In April and May 2025, India orchestrated yet another false flag operation to fabricate a pretext for cross-border military escalation against Pakistan. Using unverified and politically motivated accusations, India launched attacks across the Line of Control and targeted civilian infrastructure in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. These acts are not isolated military incidents—they are deliberate provocations aimed at destabilizing Pakistan, discrediting it diplomatically, and laying the groundwork for regional escalation.

More alarmingly, intelligence and diplomatic sources suggest that this aggression is driven by India’s ulterior objectives: to create conditions for violating the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and wrest control over Pakistan’s water share, especially from western rivers that are legally designated for Pakistan’s exclusive use. This attempt to use armed conflict as a means to achieve hydro-political dominance is in violation of both international humanitarian law and watercourse law.

Such deliberate aggression—executed on fabricated grounds and with strategic intent to cause widespread civilian harm—strengthens Pakistan’s legal position under Article 51 of the UN Charter and opens further recourse under the UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), which defines such pretextual military actions as acts of aggression.

War crimes and attacks on civilians is a breach of International Humanitarian Law

War crimes and attacks on civilians is a breach of International Humanitarian Law. India’s repeated and targeted strikes on civilian areas, use of cluster munitions, destruction of mosques and public facilities, and the maiming of children in recent attacks are grave breaches of international law. These constitute war crimes under: Geneva Convention IV (1949) on the protection of civilians in time of war; Additional Protocol I (1977), prohibiting attacks on civilians, religious buildings, hospitals, and schools; The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), which criminalizes deliberate attacks on civilian populations; The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.

International law demands that no state can target civilians or use terror as a method of warfare. Such actions trigger not only international condemnation but also legal responsibility under the doctrines of state responsibility and command responsibility.

Water Aggression is an  emerging threat and a legal violation

Water Aggression is an  emerging threat and a legal violation. India’s current policy of weaponizing water is also a form of hybrid aggression. Its unilateral threats to divert or dam Pakistan’s rivers directly violate:

The Indus Waters Treaty (1960), a World Bank-brokered agreement binding both states under international law;

The UN Watercourses Convention (1997), requiring equitable and reasonable use of shared waters and a duty not to cause significant harm;

UN Resolution 64/292 (2010), recognizing water as a human right and its denial as a violation of international human rights obligations.

Water is an essential element of national survival. India’s intent to control Pakistani waters under the pretext of military tension is both illegal and destabilizing, giving Pakistan every right to defend its vital national interests.

International Jurisprudence Supports Pakistan’s Right of Self-Defence and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has repeatedly affirmed in cases such as Nicaragua v. United States and Oil Platforms (Iran v. USA) that once an armed attack occurs, the right of self-defence is immediate and unconditional, provided it meets the tests of necessity and proportionality.

Pakistan has consistently demonstrated restraint, opting for diplomacy over escalation

Pakistan has consistently demonstrated restraint, opting for diplomacy over escalation. Yet, persistent Indian aggression, including the April–May 2025 attacks, compels Pakistan to invoke its legal right of self-defence. This right is not optional—it is a duty to protect sovereignty, territory, and the lives of its citizens.

Reaffirm to the international community that any defensive measures taken by Pakistan are rooted in international law, not political expediency

Legal and Diplomatic Response Moving Forward Pakistan must now: present credible evidence of India’s recent war crimes and water aggression before the UN Security Council, International Court of Justice, and International Criminal Court; engage with the Permanent Indus Commission and invoke treaty-based mechanisms; coordinate with friendly states and regional organizations to highlight India’s violations of international law; reaffirm to the international community that any defensive measures taken by Pakistan are rooted in international law, not political expediency.

In conclusion, a lawful stand for sovereignty and justice is essential. Pakistan’s right of self-defence, under both the UN Charter and customary international law, is well-established. India’s April–May 2025 aggression, based on a false flag narrative and aimed at securing water control and regional dominance, cannot go unchallenged. The international community must recognize this aggression for what it is—and acknowledge that Pakistan’s lawful self-defence is a measure of survival, not retaliation.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.