New Delhi: India on Friday reiterated that its decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance will remain unchanged until Pakistan takes credible and irreversible steps to end its support for cross-border terrorism.
The clarification came in response to Pakistan’s recent criticism of India’s decision and its claims before the international community that suspending the treaty could set a concerning precedent for countries sharing transboundary rivers.
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Addressing a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s stand on the treaty has been consistent and is directly linked to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.
“India’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty is consistent. The IWT stands in abeyance in response to Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal said.
India placed the treaty in abeyance following the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed. The government has maintained that the decision was taken in response to Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism.
Since then, Pakistan has repeatedly argued on international platforms that India’s move undermines established norms governing the sharing of transboundary river waters. However, New Delhi has maintained that there will be no change in its position unless Pakistan permanently ends its support for terrorism originating across the border.
The latest remarks from the MEA reaffirm India’s stance that security concerns remain central to its policy on the Indus Waters Treaty, with the government insisting that any future consideration of the agreement depends on Pakistan taking verifiable action against cross-border terrorism.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
