MEA Reaffirms India’s Stand on Indus Water Treaty

India Keeps Water Treaty In Abeyance

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India's position on the Indus Water 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.”

This follows another round of rhetoric exchanged between India and Pakistan on the suspension of the water-sharing pact in the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam killing 26 civilians.

Bilawal Warns Against Weaponising River Waters

Earlier this week, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had threatened India by claiming that New Delhi uses water as a strategic weapon. 

"Pakistan must speak clearly. The Indus is not a pressure point. The Indus is not a bargaining chip. The Indus is not a weapon to be placed in India's hands. The Indus is a lifeline of Pakistan. And any attempt to turn that lifeline into a noose must be treated as a threat to the survival of our state. This is the message that Pakistan must deliver to India," he said

Pahalgam Attack Triggered Treaty Suspension

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India had put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold citing continued backing of cross-border terrorism by Islamabad. Earlier, last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a strong statement, saying blood and water cannot flow together. The Indus Water Treaty would be held in abeyance till the time Pakistan takes creditable and verifiable action against terrorists from its soil, he had declared.

Pakistan Challenges Treaty Suspension On Global Forums

Pakistan had decried India’s move as ‘illegal’ and akin to a declaration of war, vowing to retaliate in the event of any interruption to the water flow. The country has intensified diplomatic efforts with the United Nations and initiated legal proceedings in the Permanent Court of Arbitration besides engaging in a global campaign to accuse New Delhi of weaponising water. 

India Condemns Pakistan Airstrikes In Afghanistan

Meanwhile, the MEA on Friday strongly condemned the Pakistani military airstrikes in Afghan territory, which caused civilian deaths. Jaiswal also emphasized India’s respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and reaffirmed that New Delhi continues to engage with Afghanistan via its humanitarian and development programs.

"We had strongly condemned the airstrikes that happened from Pakistan into Afghanistan, in which several civilian lives, including women and children, were lost. We had offered our condolences on the passing away of precious lives, and we had also, at the same time, reiterated our strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan," Jaiswal said.