India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty, Links Resumption to Pakistan Ending Terror Support

 New Delhi,  – India has announced the continued suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, a decision rooted in Islamabad’s persistent support for cross-border terrorism, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Monday. The move, initially enacted on April 23 following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, underscores India’s firm stance on linking bilateral cooperation to Pakistan’s cessation of terror activities.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal elaborated on the decision, stating, “As per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision of 23 April, India will keep the Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” He highlighted additional factors influencing India’s position, noting, “Climate change, demographic shifts, and technological changes have created new realities on the ground.” Jaiswal also pointed out that the treaty, signed in 1960 with a spirit of goodwill as per its preamble, has been undermined by Pakistan’s decades-long promotion of terrorism, contravening the agreement’s foundational principles.

Reaffirming India’s consistent policy on Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal added, “We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”

The suspension marks a historic shift, as it is the first time India has formally halted the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, a water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier addressed the nation on the issue, emphasizing the incompatibility of terror and cooperation. “Terror and trade cannot go together, water and blood cannot flow together,” Modi declared last month, signaling a broader diplomatic crackdown on Pakistan following the treaty’s suspension.

The decision reflects India’s strategic recalibration in response to ongoing security challenges posed by Pakistan, with the MEA making it clear that the resumption of the treaty hinges on verifiable steps by Pakistan to dismantle its terror infrastructure.