India Writes to Pakistan, Puts Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance
The letter accused Pakistan of failing to engage in dialogue.
India Writes to Pakistan, Puts Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance, latest news:
New Delhi, April 24:India on Thursday formally notified Pakistan of its decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance, following a surge in tensions between the two nations.
In a letter addressed to her counterpart Syed Ali Murtuza, Secretary in Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, India’s Jal Shakti Ministry Secretary Debashree Mukherjee conveyed the decision to suspend the treaty with immediate effect.
The letter stated, “These communications cited fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the Treaty was executed, which require a reassessment of obligations under the various Articles of the Treaty, read with its Annexures.”
Further justifying the move, the letter read, “The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”
It was also highlighted that Pakistan has consistently disregarded India’s efforts to address emerging issues stemming from these changes.
The letter outlined several concerns, “These changes include significantly altered population demographics, the need to accelerate the development of clean energy, and other changes in the assumptions underlying the sharing of waters under the Treaty.”
Additionally, the letter accused Pakistan of failing to engage in dialogue,“Apart from other breaches committed by it, Pakistan has refused to respond to India’s request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the Treaty and is thus in breach of its obligations.”
India’s decision follows the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives and sparked nationwide outrage. The attack has also led to incidents of communal disharmony in some regions of the country.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed on September 19, 1960, between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, to share the waters of the Indus River system.
Under this treaty: India got control over the eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej and Pakistan received control over the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Despite multiple wars and diplomatic tensions, the treaty survived over six decades as a symbol of peaceful cooperation on water sharing. It has often been hailed as one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in the world.
However, the situation has recently shifted. Following a deadly terror attack that killed 26 civilians, widely believed to have been orchestrated by Pakistan-based groups, India announced on Wednesday its decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, signaling a hardening of its stance.
Indian officials stated that "fundamental changes in circumstances" have taken place since the treaty was signed, and that Pakistan has consistently ignored India’s efforts to address pressing issues related to cross-border terrorism and trust in bilateral agreements.
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