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The Ministry also said that changing ground realities with respect to climate change and glacial melt calls for a renegotiation of the treaty.
Bikers take pictures at the confluence of rivers Zanskar and Indus near Kargil. (IMAGE: AFP)
India placed the Indus Waters Treaty on hold, citing Pakistan’s failure to uphold the spirit of the agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs told a parliamentary panel after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told lawmakers that Pakistan had held in abeyance the “goodwill and friendship” outlined in the 1960 treaty’s preamble.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the treaty’s core principles no longer hold, as Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism undermines India’s ability to use the agreement as intended.
India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) marks a significant shift in its approach to dealing with Pakistan, especially in the wake of the April 2025 Pahalgam attacks and the ongoing Operation Sindoor counter-terror operations. Pakistan’s intervention on behalf of terrorists following Operation Sindoor also brought both neighbours close to a full-blown conflict.
The treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960, was long considered a rare example of India-Pakistan cooperation even during periods of war and tension.
The Ministry also said that the treaty’s terms need updating, citing major changes such as new engineering methods, climate change and glacial melt. This view, officials said, will be shared globally by Indian delegations defending the suspension. India is sending seven delegations to 59 countries to reiterate India’s stance against cross-border terrorism and its state sponsorship, something neighbouring Pakistan has used in attempt to destabilise Kashmir Valley and the broader South Asian region.
Despite India’s repeated calls for talks, Pakistan has refused to engage, the Ministry noted. The treaty, based on outdated mid-20th century frameworks, needs a fresh look to reflect 21st century realities.
From melting glaciers and erratic river flows to rising energy demands and population pressures, the Ministry of External Affairs said India has every right to push for a renegotiation that fits today’s needs.
It added that suspending the treaty was a logical outcome, given the scale of change on the ground and Pakistan’s unwillingness to respond diplomatically.
Misri has also briefed MPs on Operation Sindoor and India’s broader response to the Pahalgam terror attack, while engaging with visiting multi-party delegations across 33 countries and the European Union to explain India’s position.
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