The Indian government has officially issued a notification to put the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance, according to sources on Friday. This decision follows a letter sent by the Secretary of the Jal Shakti Ministry, Debashree Mukherjee, to Pakistan’s counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza, announcing the suspension of the treaty.
In the letter, Mukherjee stated that the Indian government has decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, effective immediately, citing significant changes in circumstances since the treaty was executed. The letter emphasized the need to reassess the obligations under various articles of the treaty, given the current geopolitical context.
The move comes after a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, triggered by the recent terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists in the Baisaran meadow, resulting in the deaths of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, and leaving several others injured. The attack has sparked widespread condemnation across India.
In response to the attack, the Indian government has taken several diplomatic steps, including closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, and reducing the number of diplomatic staff in both High Commissions. Pakistan has also been given 40 hours to return its nationals.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations with the help of the World Bank, has long been regarded as one of the most successful international treaties. It allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) to Pakistan, while India has control over the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej). Despite several periods of tension, the treaty has remained a cornerstone for water-sharing and development in the region for over half a century. Under the treaty, India receives 20 percent of the water from the Indus River System, with Pakistan receiving the remaining 80 percent.