New Delhi: India has reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain suspended until Pakistan ceases its support for cross-border terrorism.
During a media briefing the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that the treaty has been in abeyance since the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in 26 fatalities. This decision follows India’s military operation, “Operation Sindoor,” launched in May 2025, aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in response to the attack. Jaiswal emphasized that the restoration of the treaty is contingent upon a credible and irreversible halt to Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism. He dismissed criticisms from Islamabad regarding India’s hydroelectric projects on the Chenab and Beas rivers, asserting that India’s international engagements are driven by its own foreign policy interests. He also reaffirmed India’s strategic autonomy in maintaining relationships with other countries, underscoring the importance of its international engagements. The operational effects of the treaty’s suspension are evident at the Baglihar Dam in Jammu and Kashmir, where the dam’s gates remain closed over a year after the treaty’s suspension. This situation reflects a significant shift in India’s water management and hydroelectric strategy in the region. Additionally, India has rejected a May 15, 2026, ruling from what it deems an “illegally constituted” Court of Arbitration regarding treaty interpretation and maximum pondage, asserting that it does not recognize the court’s authority. As the IWT enters its second year in abeyance, the situation illustrates India’s firm diplomatic and strategic stance, linking regional stability and resource management to the broader issue of state-sponsored terrorism.
