NEW DELHI, June 21, 2025 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah has firmly ruled out any possibility of restoring the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, asserting that Islamabad violated the spirit and terms of the decades-old agreement. In an interview with The Times of India, Shah declared that India has lawfully suspended the treaty and will divert the waters to serve domestic needs.
“No, it will never be restored. International treaties can’t be annulled unilaterally but we had the right to put it in abeyance, which we have done,” Shah said. “The treaty preamble mentions that it was for peace and progress of the two countries but once that has been violated, there is nothing left to protect.”
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, was suspended by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which marked a sharp escalation in hostilities. India subsequently expelled several Pakistani nationals and undertook a series of diplomatic and security measures in response.
Shah emphasized that India will now reclaim and utilize its rightful share of river waters. “We will use water that rightfully belongs to India. We will take the water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably,” he stated.
"Deliberate Attempt to Sabotage Peace in Kashmir"
Speaking on the Pahalgam attack, the Home Minister described it as a direct attempt to destabilize the Valley and derail its growing peace and prosperity. “It was a deliberate attempt to sabotage peace in Kashmir, to stop rising tourism and distract Kashmiri youth,” Shah said, noting that the local population had never before demonstrated such solidarity with India.
Reiterating the government's strong security posture, Shah warned that India would not hesitate to respond swiftly and decisively to provocations from Pakistan. “We will not hesitate in acting against whatever Pakistan chooses to do, without any delay,” he added.
Shah revealed that following attacks on civilian targets in India, retaliatory airstrikes were carried out targeting Pakistan’s military infrastructure. “Pakistan attacked civilian locations in India, but India gave a befitting reply by damaging their airbases, which prompted them to seek a suspension in hostilities,” he said.
“In line with the PM’s public declaration to punish terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack, we launched limited strikes on terror launchpads and made it very clear that was a targeted strike. Pakistan treated our strike on terrorists as an attack on its territory, ending the distinction,” he noted.
Criticism of Congress Over Operation Sindoor
The Home Minister also hit back at the Congress party for its criticism of Operation Sindoor, India’s coordinated military and diplomatic response to recent cross-border hostilities.
“I want to ask Congress, what used to happen during their time? How can Congress question us on the issue of terrorism? It used to do nothing except change a minister. Of all political parties, Congress certainly has no right to criticise us,” Shah said.
As India continues to navigate a complex security landscape, the government’s stance underlines a decisive shift in strategy—prioritizing national interest and adopting a firm posture against cross-border aggression.
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