Indus Waters Treaty

India Puts Indus Waters Treaty on Hold Until Pakistan Ends Terror Support: “Water and Blood Cannot Flow Together”

India has once again taken a firm stance against Pakistan, declaring that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain in abeyance until Islamabad credibly and irreversibly ends its support for cross-border terrorism. The statement was made by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a press briefing on Thursday, in the wake of recent escalations following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly of Indian tourists.

No Engagement Without Accountability

Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing position that any engagement with Pakistan must be strictly bilateral and based on the cessation of terror activities.

“You are well aware of our position that any India-Pakistan engagement has to be bilateral,” he said, responding to a query on U.S. President Donald Trump expressing interest in mediating the Kashmir issue.

Firmly rejecting any third-party mediation, Jaiswal underscored:

“I would like to remind you that talks and terror don’t go together.”

India has consistently maintained that the Kashmir issue is an internal matter, and that the only point of discussion regarding Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with Pakistan would be:

“The vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.“

Indus Waters Treaty: A Strategic Lever

India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty — a 1960 agreement brokered by the World Bank that governs water-sharing between the two countries — is part of a broader diplomatic response following the Pahalgam attack. The Ministry made it clear:

“The Treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s powerful remark, Jaiswal added:

“Water and blood cannot flow together.“

This marks a rare and serious move, as the IWT has withstood multiple India-Pakistan conflicts in the past. The suspension signals a more assertive Indian posture, aiming to hold Pakistan accountable using both diplomatic and strategic tools.

Willingness to Discuss Handing Over of Terrorists

In a significant message, Jaiswal also expressed India’s openness to discuss one specific issue with Pakistan:

“We are open to discussing the handing over to India of terrorists whose list was provided to Pakistan some years ago.”

This includes individuals involved in attacks such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks and other cross-border terrorism incidents.

Recent Developments: Ceasefire Understanding

Despite the hardline measures, some progress has been reported on the military front. On May 10, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that India and Pakistan had reached an understanding to stop all firing and military actions across land, air, and sea — a development seen as an attempt to reduce frontline tensions post-Operation Sindoor.

However, Indian officials have clarified that a ceasefire does not equate to normalization of relations or resumption of comprehensive dialogue.

Conclusion: Dialogue Only After Terror Ends

India’s message remains unequivocal: any future dialogue with Pakistan will depend on an end to terror sponsorship and a return of illegally occupied territories. Until then, both water and diplomacy will remain withheld.

The firm suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, paired with the clear diplomatic language from New Delhi, indicates a strategic recalibration — prioritizing national security over traditional restraint.

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Pakistan has, for the first time, indicated a readiness to engage with New Delhi on the Indus Water Treaty.

India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.Several media houses quoting official sources said that Pakistanís Water Resources Secretary, Syed Ali Murtaza, has responded to Indias formal communication regarding the suspension of the treaty.In his reply, Murtaza offered to hold discussions with India to address the specific provisions to which New Delhi had raised objections.

However, Murtazas communication also questioned the legal basis of Indias decision to unilaterally place the treaty in abeyance, noting that the agreement contains no exit clause.

This marks the first time Pakistan has signalled such willingness despite India issuing two earlier notices, one in January 2023 and another in September 2024, seeking a review and modification of the treaty. Islamabad had, until now, refrained from explicitly engaging with Indiaís concerns.

The shift comes after India suspended the treaty with ìimmediate effectî following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 persons, mostly tourists.

In a letter dated April 24, just two days after the Pahalgam attack, Indian Express reported that Indiaís Water Resources Secretary Debashree Mukherjee conveyed the governmentís decision to her Pakistani counterpart.

ìThe obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental,î she wrote. ìBut what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Jammu and Kashmir.î

Mukherjee argued that these security threats had directly impeded Indiaís ability to fully utilise its entitlements under the treaty.

ìPakistan has refused to respond to Indiaís request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the treaty,î she said, accusing Islamabad of being in breach of its obligations. ìThe Government of India has hereby decided that the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, will be held in abeyance with immediate effect.î

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on April 23 took this decision as part of a wider diplomatic and strategic response to the terror attack, including the downgrading of diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

On May 13, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesman Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed Indiaís stance, underscoring the broader context of New Delhiís decision.

ìThe Indus Waters Treaty was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, Jaiswal said. ìHowever, Pakistan has consistently violated those principles through its support for cross-border terrorism. India will keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for terrorism.î

He also pointed to evolving ground realities, citing ìclimate change, demographic shifts and technological changesî as factors necessitating a re-evaluation of the treaty.

The suspension of the treaty aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modiís post-operation remarks, in which he declared, ìwater and blood cannot flow togetherî, a reference to Indiaís hardened stance following ëOperation Sindoorí.

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