New Delhi: India has said the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will not function in its present form, citing Islamabad’s continued support for terrorism and stating that there is no evidence to show that Pakistan has abandoned such activities.
The treaty was suspended after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, in which 26 people were killed by a Pakistan-based militant organisation. The suspension was announced as part of India’s measures against Pakistan following the attack. India later carried out Operation Sindoor in May, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
India has said the water-sharing agreement, signed in 1960, requires restructuring in view of changes in climate conditions, population patterns and advances in hydrological technology. Officials said India had approached Pakistan four times since 2023 seeking changes to the treaty, but Islamabad responded negatively.
The government has also pointed to reports of United Nations Security Council-sanctioned terrorists appearing publicly in Pakistan, stating that there has been no shift in the country’s approach towards terrorism. India has rejected Pakistan’s claims that New Delhi is attempting to stop its water supply, alleging that Islamabad is creating a victim narrative.
After suspending the treaty, India accelerated water management and power generation projects in Jammu and Kashmir. The government expects an additional 3,500 MW of power generation capacity in the coming years. The Kiru and Pakal Dul hydroelectric projects are scheduled for commissioning this year, while the Kwar and Ratle projects are expected to become operational by 2028.