Pakistan Pleads With India as Indus Waters Treaty Suspension Deepens Crisis

Pakistan has formally requested India to reconsider its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank in 1960. The plea follows India's move to halt the treaty after a Pakistan-backed terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mainly tourists.

India cited national security concerns and declared the treaty suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ends support for cross-border terrorism. The decision, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), marks the first time India has paused the historic agreement. Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources warned India in a letter that the suspension could trigger a water crisis in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referencing Operation Sindoor—India's military response to the terror attack—firmly stated, "Water and blood cannot flow together," asserting that India will not tolerate terrorism while maintaining diplomatic or trade ties. Under the treaty, Pakistan received 70% of the Indus River System's waters (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), while India retained control over the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi. Now, India plans to block all flows of Indus waters into Pakistan through a three-tier strategy—short, mid, and long-term—and complete stalled hydroelectric projects.

Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Pakistan’s use of terrorism violates the treaty’s spirit of goodwill and cooperation. Two high-level meetings have already occurred involving Home Minister Amit Shah and relevant ministers, with more expected soon to finalize implementation steps.

This move signals a significant shift in India-Pakistan relations, prioritizing national security over long-standing diplomatic frameworks.