Pakistan Appeals To India Over Indus Waters Treaty Suspension

In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources has formally requested India to resume the flow of rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty, which India has placed in abeyance.

The plea comes days after India suspended the six-decade-old water-sharing agreement, following the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Background Of The Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the waters of six rivers between India and Pakistan.

India controls the eastern rivers- Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi- while Pakistan controls the western rivers- Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

The treaty has long been viewed as a rare example of bilateral cooperation despite political tensions.

India suspended the treaty after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives, mostly tourists.

The Indian government cited national security concerns, linking Pakistan-backed terrorism as the cause.

The Cabinet Committee on Security endorsed the suspension, marking the first pause in the treaty’s implementation.

In a letter to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Pakistan warned that the treaty suspension could trigger a severe water crisis domestically, urging New Delhi to reconsider its decision.

India’s Firm Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first speech since launching ‘Operation Sindoor’, a military campaign in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, underlined India’s uncompromising stance.

He stated, “Water and blood cannot flow together,” and emphasised that terror and dialogue cannot coexist.

India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated that Pakistan has breached the treaty founded on goodwill by supporting cross-border terrorism for decades.

India has outlined a three-tier strategy- short-term, mid-term, and long-term- to prevent any flow of Indus waters to Pakistan.

Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil confirmed that India is ensuring no water leaves its territory unutilised.

The government plans to accelerate stalled hydroelectric projects on the Indus basin to maximise water use within India, further reducing dependency.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Water Resources Minister Paatil, Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are expected to hold a crucial meeting this week to discuss strategies following the treaty’s suspension.

Two prior meetings have already taken place with top officials to coordinate efforts.

India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty marks a pivotal shift in its approach to Pakistan, tying water-sharing directly to the cessation of terrorism.

While Pakistan pleads for treaty reinstatement to avoid a crisis, India remains firm, emphasising national security and self-reliance in water management.

This development will significantly impact bilateral relations and regional water politics going forward.

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