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Indus Waters Treaty Suspension

The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has announced that the Indus Waters Treaty will continue to be suspended until Pakistan effectively ceases its support for cross-border terrorism. This information was conveyed to the Cabinet secretary, as reported by a news source on Saturday.

Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 23, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, India decided to suspend the 1960 water-sharing agreement, citing Pakistan's ongoing support for cross-border terrorism.

On Tuesday, Debashree Mukherjee, the secretary of the Water Resources Ministry, confirmed in a report to Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan that the treaty remains in abeyance due to the attack allegedly sponsored by Pakistan.

The treaty was designed to equitably distribute the waters of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. It allocated water from three eastern rivers—Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej—to India, while Pakistan received water from the three western rivers—Chenab, Indus, and Jhelum.

Both nations were permitted to utilize each other's rivers for specific purposes, including small hydroelectric projects that require minimal water storage. The treaty also allowed for the harnessing of the Chenab River for power generation.

Pakistan previously labeled India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as an 'act of war' and threatened to respond with full force across its entire spectrum of national power.

Islamabad criticized New Delhi's actions as unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, and lacking legal merit, according to a statement from Pakistan's National Security Committee published by a local media outlet.

On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an agreement to halt firing after a four-day conflict.

Tensions escalated between the two countries on May 7 when the Indian military conducted strikes, known as Operation Sindoor, targeting what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

These military actions were a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

In retaliation, the Pakistan Army engaged in shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 Indian civilians and seven defense personnel.