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India has informed Pakistan of its decision to keep Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance with immediate effect, saying Pakistan has breached conditions of the treaty.
According to PTI, Sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting Jammu and Kashmir impedes India’s rights under the Indus Waters Treaty, India’s Secretary of Water Resources Debashree Mukherjee said in a letter addressed to her Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza.
‘The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,’ the letter read.
‘The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India’s full utilisation of its rights under the treaty,’ the letter read.
The communication to Pakistan also highlighted “significantly altered population demographics, the need to accelerate the development of clean energy, and other changes” as reasons necessitating a re-assessment of the treaty’s obligations.
It also accused Pakistan of breaching the treaty by refusing to negotiate modifications, as required under Article XII(3).
‘…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 the treaty,’ the letter said.
‘The Government of India has hereby decided that the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect,’ it added.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed support for the Centre’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, following the recent Pahalgam attack. Abdullah described the treaty as the “most unfair document” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising that they have “never been in favour of the Indus Water Treaty.”
“The Government of India has taken some steps. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, let’s be honest, we have never been in favour of the Indus Waters Treaty. Now, what the medium to long-term implications of this are, that is something we have to wait to see,” Abdullah said.
