Pakistan Urges Reconsideration as India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty Following Pahalgam Attack

 In the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Islamabad has formally requested New Delhi to reconsider its recent decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. The suspension came shortly after the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.

Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, has written to his counterpart in India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, expressing Pakistan’s willingness to engage in dialogue. The appeal follows India’s move to place the decades-old treaty in abeyance during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting held on April 23—just one day after the Pahalgam incident.

India’s decision was further underscored by Operation Sindoor, a military campaign launched on May 7 targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. The operation was followed by four days of cross-border hostilities, including drone and artillery strikes, before a ceasefire took effect.

Despite the cessation of hostilities, the Indian government has reiterated that the suspension of the treaty will remain in effect. “As per the Cabinet Committee on Security decision of April 23, India will keep the Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. He added that evolving challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, and technological advancements necessitate a re-evaluation of the treaty’s framework.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a national address on Monday, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating: “Water and blood cannot flow together.” The remark is being interpreted as one of the strongest diplomatic signals sent by India in its ongoing efforts to curb cross-border terrorism.

Established in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty allocated roughly 30% of the river system's waters to India and the remaining 70% to Pakistan. Following the suspension, India has also announced it will no longer share flood-related data with Pakistan—a move that underscores the shifting dynamics in bilateral relations amid heightened security concerns.