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.
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)
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.
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.
In recent times, he has successfully led the business through supply chain disruptions, as well as driving Tesco's trading strategy and accelerating our digital marketing transition.
Prasad said, “I pick up the reins of a business with strong momentum, a winning strategy and a talented team. I am privileged to be appointed UK CEO and my priority will be to continue offering our customers an unbeatable experience, every time they shop with Tesco. I would also like to thank Matthew for his support and wish him well for the future.”
At Tesco, he wields influence far beyond the aisles of its stores. Under his stewardship, the supermarket group has launched groundbreaking initiatives in sustainable agriculture. The partnership with potato supplier Branston and livestock processor ABP to create two low-carbon concept farms exemplifies his innovative approach.
Prasad was ranked 52nd in the GG2 Power List 2025, published by Asian Media Group, which profiles Britain's 101 most influential Asians.
Born in Suva, Fiji, and raised in New Zealand, he brings a global perspective to his leadership. Educated at Auckland University and Harvard Business School, he cut his teeth in commercial and marketing roles at The BOC Group and Mars Inc. before joining Tesco in 2010.
Prasad’s rise in retail has coincided with some of the most volatile years in modern business history. From Brexit to Covid-19, from supply chain crises to soaring inflation, he has had to navigate Tesco through relentless turbulence.
He credits his father for instilling in him an unwavering work ethic, teaching him that “giving up was just not an option” - a philosophy that would shape his leadership style and career trajectory.
His personal passions – scuba diving, wildlife conservation, and discovering the world’s best food and wine – offer a glimpse into a leader who values both adventure and precision. He admires Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s transformational CEO, for his ability to cultivate a learning organisation rooted in curiosity and empowerment – qualities Prasad himself embodies.
Murphy, said, “Matthew leaves with our respect and sincere thanks for his contribution. Under his leadership, our business has gone from strength to strength. His obsession with customers has made a big impact and we are winning in the market by offering customers unbeatable value. We wish him the very best in his next chapter.
“Ashwin is an exceptional leader with a strong track record for delivering for our customers. His experience leading our product and customer strategy makes him the ideal person to take over as UK CEO."
He added, “Our strategy focuses on being brilliant at the basics whilst stepping forward on big strategic initiatives – by becoming increasingly digital & delivering more personalised customer engagement, through new growth avenues such as Marketplace, and by further developing leading capabilities such as retail media.
"We are pleased to be making strong progress against our growth ambitions, and the newly created role of Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer will set us up even better to continue winning in the future. I am delighted to appoint Natasha, one of our most experienced and capable leaders, into this role.”
In a major shake-up at Tesco, Natasha Adams, currently Tesco Ireland & NI CEO, has been appointed to a newly created role on the executive committee as chief strategy & transformation officer, effective from June 9.
Geoff Byrne, currently chief operating officer in Ireland, has been promoted as Tesco Ireland & NI CEO. All executive roles continue to report to Group CEO Ken Murphy, the company said.
Barnes said, “I have decided to step down to pursue other opportunities. Leading Tesco’s UK business has been a privilege, and I am proud of everything we have achieved together. I believe our colleagues are the best in the industry, and I would like to thank everyone for their support. I would also like to wish Ashwin the very best in his new role.”
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.
Even with the latest cut, domestic energy bills remain about 50 per cent higher than they were in summer 2021. The increase dates back to the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which caused a sharp rise in gas prices across Europe.
Consumer groups said the drop is not enough to make bills affordable for many people.
"Any fall in the price of energy is always welcome news, but this is a short fall from a great height. Bills remain punishingly high for low-income households," said Adam Scorer, chief executive of the charity National Energy Action.
Tim Jarvis, Ofgem’s director general of markets, encouraged people to explore other options. “The first thing I want to remind people is that you don’t have to pay the price cap – there are better deals out there so it’s important to shop around,” he said in a press release. He added that alternative deals could be up to 200 pounds cheaper per year.
Prime minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday said he was aware that older people were still feeling the impact of high energy prices. He said he wanted to expand eligibility for winter fuel payments after last year’s reduction.
Ofgem said the new cap would be set at 1,720 pounds a year for average usage of gas and electricity. This marks a fall of 129 pounds from the cap in place for April to June.
The regulator said the cut reflects lower global wholesale prices, along with some changes to supplier business costs.
“Global wholesale prices for energy have gone down. While this is the main cause, changes to supplier business costs have also made an impact on energy prices falling,” Ofgem said in a statement.
The price cap, introduced in 2019, currently covers about 65 per cent of UK households.
(With inputs from agencies)
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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)
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.
The agreement, backed by the US, was described by Starmer as "the only way" to maintain control of the military base on the archipelago's largest island. Britain will pay Mauritius £101 million annually for 99 years to lease the facility, he said.
"There's no alternative but to act in Britain's national interest by agreeing to this deal," he added. Including inflation, the total cost of the lease is expected to be about £3.4 billion.
Starmer said the UK's key allies supported the move. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in a statement that Washington "welcomes the historic agreement".
Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam called the deal a "great victory" and said it completed "the process of decolonisation of Mauritius, which began in 1968".
However, the UK’s opposition Conservative party criticised the move, accusing Starmer of having "given away" British territory.
The deal had been delayed earlier in the day after two Chagossian women, Bertrice Pompe and Bernadette Dugasse, secured a temporary injunction in a pre-dawn court hearing. The signing was initially scheduled for 9:00 am (0800 GMT) but was paused.
The government challenged the injunction, stating the deal would need to be signed by 1:00 pm with court approval. Judge Martin Chamberlain lifted the ban shortly after 12:30 pm, saying there was a "very strong case" that delaying the deal would harm the UK’s national and public interest.
Starmer said Britain had no guarantee of maintaining the base without an agreement, as legal rulings had cast doubt on UK sovereignty over the islands. He said the deal would prevent other nations, including China, from establishing bases or conducting joint exercises near Diego Garcia.
Outside the court, Pompe said it was a "very, very sad day". "We don't want to hand our rights over to Mauritius. We are not Mauritians," she said.
The Chagos Islands remained under British control after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s. Thousands of islanders were removed, with many seeking compensation through UK courts.
Pompe, a British national born on the Chagos Islands, said she had been "forcibly removed from the Chagos Islands by the British authorities between 1967 and 1973". She said many others were left in poverty in Mauritius and faced long-term discrimination.
She added that the new agreement could "jeopardise" her current limited rights to visit the islands, including visits to family graves.
The Diego Garcia base, leased to the US, is a key military asset in the Asia-Pacific and has supported operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Ministry of Defence said a 24-nautical mile buffer zone will be enforced, where no construction or placement of material can happen without UK consent.
Defence secretary John Healey told parliament that MPs would be allowed to scrutinise the deal before its ratification.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice advised that the UK should hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius, following decades of legal disputes.
India welcomes UK's decision
India on Thursday welcomed the UK's decision to hand over the sovereignty of Chagos Islands including tropical atoll of Diego Garcia to Mauritius.
In its reaction, India said it has consistently supported Mauritius's "legitimate claim" over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on "decolonisation, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations".
We welcome the signing of the treaty between the UK and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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A study suggests NHS screening guidelines may need revising
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”.
She was responding to a study published on Tuesday (20) by Queen Mary University of London, which found that south Asian women are diagnosed with breast cancer earlier and die younger than women of European heritage.
“Doctors are the experts in their field, and not all patients are from scientific backgrounds. So, why you are having treatment should be explained fully. Because it’s about us. It’s not about somebody else. It’s your body. You’re a person, and you should be able to make those decisions,” said Nanray, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2015, when she was 52.
She added, “My medical team has been amazing, but at times it was difficult to build a trusting relationship with some of my physicians. There were moments when I felt like I was being treated as a number rather than a person.
“With cancer, one size does not fit all, and it’s important that we’re all treated as individuals. Beyond your cancer diagnosis, you are a person, and I think people can forget that.
“Co-producing and collaborating with patients in research can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions that better meet patients’ needs.”
According to Nanray, the needs of Asian patients are different from their white counterparts, and reactions to treatments also vary. Cultural background factors also need to be taken into account for patients, she said.
Balwinder Nanray
“From personal experience, I can say my surgeon was of Asian background, and he was wonderful. He understood every need that I had. However, my oncologist was white, and that may have played a part in the decisions. He was amazing and knew what he was doing, but I think he lacked social skills.”
Nanray, who lives with her husband and son in Essex, was diagnosed with breast cancer following a mammogram organised through her workplace.
“I had no symptoms and no lumps. I was a senior leader in financial services, but breast cancer had other ideas. I underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, and I am currently on hormone therapy to help reduce the risk of the cancer returning. This year marks nearly 10 years since my diagnosis, and I’m very grateful for that,” she said.
Nanray is now engaged as a patient advocate for several cancer charities, including Breast Cancer Now.
The Queen Mary University study said addressing existing racial disparities in breast cancer is crucial to ensure equitable benefit across diverse communities.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer worldwide, claiming the lives of approximately 11,500 women annually in the UK.
South Asian and black women face poorer survival rates compared to their white counterparts, with three-year survival rates at 89 per cent and 85 per cent respectively, versus 91 per cent for white women.
These patients often receive diagnoses at later stages, when the disease is more difficult to treat.
Precision oncology offers individually tailored treatments, moving away from standardised approaches. However, ethnic minority patients remain underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting the effectiveness of these advances for diverse populations, the study said.
Researchers examined clinical and genetic data from 7,000 women with breast cancer. Health experts stressed the importance of addressing these gaps to ensure equal access to quality care for all patients, regardless of ethnic background.
Professor of bioinformatics at Queen Mary’s Barts Cancer Institute, Claude Chelala, told Eastern Eye, “Our paper highlights the need to address longstanding underrepresentation of patients from ethnic minority groups in cancer research and the disparities this creates.
“Recruiting participants from diverse backgrounds can be challenging for a number of reasons, including cultural and language barriers, and a lack of trust or awareness of research.
“Practical issues – such as time, cost and location – can also make it harder for people to take part in studies.
“To address these barriers, we must work with patients and community groups to build trust and raise awareness, ensuring that research is designed in a way that feels accessible and inclusive. This also includes promoting diversity among the teams that recruit patients for studies and biobanks.”
Chelala added that her team are working with the Breast Cancer Now Biobank to boost participation from underrepresented communities. Their efforts extend to working alongside Barts Charity through the Barts Life Sciences Precision Medicine programme and Barts Health NHS Trust, engaging local communities across north east London to encourage diverse research participation.
Researchers stressed that funders and fellow scientists must implement policies requiring the inclusion of diverse populations in study design, which they said is essential for achieving more equitable cancer care outcomes for all patients.
Nanray, whose treatment lasted 15 months, said, “I think we need more awareness in our communities. I’m trying to go to the temples, gurdwaras, and try to raise awareness for women and men to be more in touch with their bodies. If something’s not right, if you feel it’s not right, go to your GP. If your GP doesn’t listen, go to the hospital or A&E. Make noise until someone listens to you.”
The research, one of the largest studies of its kind involving south Asian women, suggested that NHS screening guidelines may need to change. It revealed that south Asian women were diagnosed with breast cancer nearly seven years earlier than women of European ancestry and died around thirteen years younger. Women of African ancestry were diagnosed about five years earlier and died nearly nine years younger.
Current NHS guidelines recommend breast screening for all women from age 50. However, researchers suggest this may be too late for women from some ethnic backgrounds, potentially missing up to 40 per cent of cases in younger women from these groups. It also pointed out differences in mutation rates in genes linked to breast cancer, including the BRCA genes, which affect genetic testing and treatment decisions.
Claude Chelala
Some women had genetic mutations that might have made their cancer resistant to certain treatments they received, but this information was not used in planning their care.
“Precision medicine has the power to revolutionise cancer care, but only if it works for everyone,” said Chelala. “If we fail to address blind spots in research, we risk widening health inequalities rather than reducing them.”
She added, “We need to address many blind spots in our knowledge to realise the promise of precision medicine for diverse populations. For this to happen, it is important to understand and tackle the under-representation of patients from ethnic minority groups in research studies and clinical trials. This is essential to enable benefits from future larger studies to be translated to all patients, to tailor care and reduce racial gaps in its delivery.”
Researchers have called for larger studies to better understand the genetic and clinical factors affecting breast cancer across diverse populations. They said funders and scientists must rethink how cancer research studies and clinical trials are designed to ensure all ethnic groups are properly represented.
Fiona Miller Smith, chief executive of Barts Charity, said, “Equity in healthcare is an important need for east London. Inequalities in health outcomes in certain ethnic populations, such as people from African or south Asian ancestry, are often made worse by under-representation in research data and studies.
“That’s why we fund so many projects that help to improve health outcomes for people from different backgrounds – including Professor Claude Chelala and her team’s study published today.
“The findings point to the need for increasing data collection of underrepresented groups in research studies – to ensure medical advances benefit everyone in our community.”
Breast Cancer Now’s Dr Kotryna Temcinaite said women from ethnic minority communities face inequalities throughout their breast cancer journey, from initial help-seeking to survival outcomes.
The research, supported by data from the Breast Cancer Now Biobank, aims to improve treatment approaches and results for these women.
Asked for her advice to someone with a cancer diagnosis, Nanray said, “Advocate for yourself, use your voice. If they don’t listen to you, take someone with you to talk on your behalf or support you. Those are two key things. You need to use your voice, because it’s about you.
“Share your story. Don’t be scared. Cancer is not a death sentence. By using your voice, you can improve it for the next person, the next generation, make their journey that bit easier, because it’s not easy having that diagnosis.”
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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.
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.
Prime minister Keir Starmer was scheduled to finalise the agreement in a virtual signing ceremony with Mauritian representatives on Thursday. However, a last-minute injunction granted to two Chagossian women by London's High Court delayed the process.
The injunction, granted early Thursday morning, temporarily blocked the deal, leading to criticism of the government. At a 10:30am hearing, Judge Martin Chamberlain lifted the ban, stating that extending it could harm the UK’s national and public interest. He added that any further legal challenges must be brought before the Court of Appeal.
“We welcome the judge's ruling today,” a government spokesperson said.
The opposition Conservatives criticised the proposed agreement. “You’re seeing British sovereign territory being given away to an ally of China, and billions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money being spent for the privilege,” said Conservative MP Robert Jenrick. “This was always a bad deal,” he added.
Earlier, the two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, had sought the injunction after a leaked newspaper report on Wednesday night indicated that the deal was set to be announced.
Outside the court, about 50 protesters gathered. The women's lawyer, Philip Rule, said the government was acting “unlawfully” and argued that Thursday could be the court’s last chance to intervene.
Starmer has said Britain’s ownership of the Chagos Islands has been questioned by international legal rulings and that an agreement with Mauritius is the only way to ensure the base remains operational.
The base on Diego Garcia is leased to the United States and is considered a key military facility in the Asia-Pacific, having been used during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ahead of the court’s ruling, a government spokesperson told AFP, “The deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.”
The Conservative Party called the agreement a “sellout for British interests”.
Britain retained the Chagos Islands after Mauritius became independent in the 1960s. Thousands of Chagossian residents were later removed from the islands and have pursued legal claims for compensation.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that the UK return the islands to Mauritius following decades of legal disputes.
Under the proposed deal, the UK would obtain a 99-year lease for the base, with the option to renew. The government has not disclosed the cost but has not denied reports of a £90 million annual fee.
Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam has said Mauritius would continue to pursue full sovereignty over the islands if the United States did not support the agreement.