New Delhi [India]: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to chair a high-level meeting on Friday evening at his residence in the national capital regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. The meeting will be attended by Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and other senior government officials.
According to sources, India has formally notified Pakistan in writing about the suspension of the 1960 treaty, citing fundamental changes in circumstances and Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.
As per ANI sources, a letter from Devashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, was sent to Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources. The letter serves as an official notice under Article XII(3) of the treaty, calling for its modification.
“These communications cited fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the Treaty was executed that require a re-assessment of obligations under the various Articles of the Treaty read with its Annexures,” the letter stated.
The letter outlined major changes, including:
- Significantly altered population demographics
- The urgent need for clean energy development
- Security issues due to terrorism stemming from Pakistan
“Obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the letter added.
It further stated:
“The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India’s full utilization of its rights under the Treaty… The Government of India has hereby decided that the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect.”
This landmark decision follows a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting held on April 23, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by senior ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and S. Jaishankar.
The move is part of a larger diplomatic and strategic response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen were killed, and several others injured. The government sees this as a cowardly and targeted attack against civilians.
Following the CCS decision, CR Patil chaired a series of meetings to fast-track the execution of this suspension.
About the Indus Waters Treaty
Signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with assistance from the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty is considered one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements globally. It governs the distribution of six rivers:
- Allocated to Pakistan: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab (Western Rivers)
- Allocated to India: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej (Eastern Rivers)
Despite tensions between India and Pakistan, the treaty had remained in effect for over six decades, even during wars and diplomatic crises.
The current suspension marks a historic shift in India’s policy, signaling a zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and a readiness to review long-standing agreements when national security is threatened.