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PTC Web Desk: India has made it unequivocally clear that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a landmark water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, will remain suspended until Pakistan brings an irreversible and credible end to cross-border terrorism. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the media on Thursday, reaffirmed New Delhi’s position that no meaningful engagement with Islamabad can occur without decisive action against terrorism.

“The Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to remain so until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably stops supporting cross-border terrorism,” said Jaishankar, adding that “the only discussion left on Kashmir is about vacating Pakistan-occupied Indian territory.”

India reaffirms suspension despite ceasefire

The clarification comes just days after a ceasefire understanding was reached between the two nations following a four-day military face-off triggered by a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 civilian lives. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor—a coordinated series of airstrikes on terror camps and strategic military locations inside Pakistan.

While both sides agreed to halt hostilities on May 10, India has maintained that the ceasefire does not dilute any of the diplomatic or strategic measures it had taken earlier, including the suspension of the IWT, closure of the Attari border check post, and staff reductions at the Pakistani High Commission.

Satellite imagery confirms damage in Pakistan

Jaishankar pointed to satellite imagery that vividly displays the extent of damage inflicted on multiple Pakistani military bases as proof of the scale and precision of the Indian strikes. High-resolution images from Maxar Technologies reveal craters on runways, damaged aircraft hangars, and destroyed storage and administrative facilities at airbases in Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Mushaf (Sargodha), Jacobabad, Bholari, and Nur Khan (Rawalpindi).

“The evidence is undeniable. Once they got hit hard on the morning of May 10, they sought a cessation of firing. It’s clear who wanted the ceasefire,” Jaishankar remarked.

Operation Sindoor: Clear objectives and targeted action

Revealing more details about Operation Sindoor, the External Affairs Minister stated that India had informed Pakistan beforehand that it would be targeting terror infrastructure only, and had warned their military not to interfere. Despite this, the Pakistani military engaged, prompting India to escalate the scope of its response.

“We achieved what we set out to do. We struck the terror infrastructure surgically. We told them clearly: this is not against your military unless you get involved—and they chose not to listen,” Jaishankar said.

Indus Waters Treaty: A Victim of Broken Trust

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, is a comprehensive agreement governing the sharing of waters from the Indus River system—including Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab. India has long abided by the treaty, even during wars and diplomatic rifts, due to its humanitarian and cooperative foundation.

However, Indian officials say Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism undermines the very basis of the agreement. According to a report by The Times of India, Islamabad had recently appealed to India to reconsider its decision, citing the treaty’s humanitarian importance for millions in both countries.

“The treaty was always flawed and tilted against India, but we upheld it in good faith. That faith was broken the moment Pakistan refused to act against terrorists,” an Indian official was quoted as saying.

Future dialogue limited to terrorism: India

Repeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks—“water and blood cannot flow together”—Jaishankar reiterated that any future dialogue with Pakistan will be limited to terrorism and not bilateral issues like Kashmir or water sharing.

“They know what needs to be done—dismantle the terror infrastructure, hand over wanted terrorists, and stop using terrorism as state policy. Only then can talks resume—and only about terrorism,” he stated.