Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India suspends Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan after Kashmir attack

India also said it would shut the main land border crossing with Pakistan, reduce diplomatic staff, withdraw Indian personnel from Islamabad, and send Pakistani officials back.

modi-meeting

In the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security in Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo: X/@narendramodi)

X/@narendramodi

INDIA has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan and taken other diplomatic measures after gunmen killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

The attack, which left 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali dead, is the deadliest targeting civilians in Kashmir in 25 years. Gunmen emerged from forests and fired on the crowd using automatic weapons.


Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday announced a series of diplomatic steps, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which has governed water sharing between the two countries since 1960.

"This will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism," Misri said in New Delhi.

India also said it would shut the main land border crossing with Pakistan, reduce diplomatic staff, withdraw Indian personnel from Islamabad, and send Pakistani officials back.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said the attackers would be brought to justice. “Their evil agenda will never succeed,” he said. Funerals and candle-lit vigils have been held across India for the victims.

Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack. Deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad would issue “a tit-for-tat response.” Defence minister Khawaja Asif added, “A comprehensive response will be given,” and claimed that India wanted to “use this incident, which we deplore, as an excuse” to exit the water accord.

India is expected to hold an all-party political meeting on Thursday to brief top leaders. Pakistan’s foreign ministry offered “condolences to the near ones of the deceased” and said it would convene its National Security Committee, a high-level body summoned only in exceptional circumstances.

Pradeep Kumar Saxena, India’s former Indus Water Commissioner, said the treaty suspension could be a step toward abrogation. “This could be the first step towards the abrogation of the treaty, if the government so decides,” Saxena told PTI.

While the treaty has no clause for unilateral withdrawal, Saxena pointed to Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties, which allows for termination in case of a fundamental change in circumstances.

Saxena said India, as the upper riparian country, has many options. With the treaty in abeyance, India is not obligated to follow restrictions such as “reservoir flushing” limitations or the monsoon-only filling of reservoirs like Kishanganga.

Filling them during Pakistan’s sowing season could impact agriculture in Pakistani Punjab, which depends heavily on the Indus system for irrigation.

The Indus system includes the Indus and five tributaries – Ravi, Beas, Sutlej (eastern rivers), and Jhelum, Chenab (western rivers).

While India has unrestricted rights over the eastern rivers, the western rivers’ waters are largely allocated to Pakistan, though India is permitted limited use for agriculture and hydroelectric power.

Design and operational restrictions on Indian projects along western rivers would no longer apply. Saxena said projects such as Salal, Baglihar, Uri, Chutak, Nimoo Bazgo, Kishenganga, Pakal Dul, Miyar, Lower Kalnai, and Ratle have faced objections from Pakistan in the past, which may now no longer be considered.

India could also stop sharing flood data with Pakistan during the monsoon, and no longer be bound by restrictions on storage or operation of reservoirs, particularly on the Jhelum. Tours of Pakistani officials to India mandated under the treaty may also be halted.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 after years of negotiations mediated by the World Bank.

At the time of Partition, the boundary between India and Pakistan split the Indus Basin, with India controlling critical headworks.

The treaty allowed India full use of the eastern rivers and limited use of the western ones, with specific conditions.

India had already sent a formal notice last year seeking a review and modification of the treaty.

(With inputs from agencies)

More For You

Tesco names Ashwin Prasad as new UK CEO
Ashwin Prasad

Tesco names Ashwin Prasad as new UK CEO

ASIAN executive Ashwin Prasad has been appointed as the UK CEO of Tesco replacing Matthew Barnes, who has stepped down to pursue other opportunities, the company announced on Thursday (22). Prasad, who is Tesco Group’s chief commercial officer, will assume the role on June 30.

Prasad is currently responsible for the group’s product and customer strategy. He has been a member of Tesco’s executive team since 2020 and brings a wealth of retail and commercial experience to this role.

Keep ReadingShow less
Energy-bills-UK-iStock

Even with the latest cut, domestic energy bills remain about 50 per cent higher than they were in summer 2021. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Energy bills to fall as Ofgem cuts price cap by 7 per cent

MILLIONS of households across Britain will see reduced energy bills starting July, after the regulator Ofgem announced a 7 per cent cut to its price cap. This is the first cut in nearly a year and comes amid ongoing pressure on household budgets.

The price reduction follows data showing inflation rose more than expected in April, highlighting continued concerns over living costs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chagos-deal-Getty

General James Hockenhull (L), Keir Starmer and defence secretary John Healey (R), attend a press conference following a deal on the Chagos Islands at Northwood Military Headquarters on May 22, 2025, in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

UK signs deal with Mauritius to return Chagos Islands, retain military base

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that an agreement had been signed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while allowing continued UK-US military use of Diego Garcia. The deal was signed after a high court judge cleared it to proceed following a legal challenge.

"A few moments ago, I signed a deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia," Starmer said.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘We’re not all the same’: Asian cancer survivor calls for culturally sensitive care
A study suggests NHS screening guidelines may need revising

‘We’re not all the same’: Asian cancer survivor calls for culturally sensitive care

DOCTORS should listen to patients and take their feelings into consideration, a cancer survivor has said, as a new study revealed differences in outcomes for ethnic and Caucasian groups.

Breast cancer survivor and patient advocate Balwinder Nanray told Eastern Eye that a patient’s needs should be at the centre of all decisions – as “there’s no one-size-fits-all approach”.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Chagos Islands

Bertrice Pompe (CL) and Bernadette Dugasse (CR), who were both born on Diego Garcia, speak outside High Court following their campaign's failed bid to prevent Britain transferring ownership of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, on May 22, 2025 in London.

Getty Images

UK deal on Chagos Islands can go ahead, court rules

A BRITISH court on Thursday cleared the way for the government to proceed with a deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, lifting a temporary injunction that had blocked the signing of the agreement.

The deal would involve the UK transferring the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius and paying to lease the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the territory.

Keep ReadingShow less