India, May 31 -- India sharply criticised Pakistan on Saturday for attempting to inject "unwarranted references" into the International Glacier Conference in Tajikistan, marking the first time the two nations have publicly clashed over the Indus Water Treaty at an international forum over the issue.

The confrontation unfolded at the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation, where minister of state for environment Kirti Vardhan Singh accused Pakistan of misusing the scientific platform to raise issues beyond its scope.

"India strongly objects and condemns Pakistan's attempt to use the International Glacier Conference to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum," Sing...