Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 16: The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has officially communicated to the Cabinet Secretary that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain suspended until Pakistan permanently renounces its support for cross-border terrorism.

In a monthly report submitted on Tuesday, Debashree Mukherjee, secretary of the department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, confirmed the government's decision to place the treaty in ‘abeyance’ with immediate effect. The move comes in response to the recent terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, which India has attributed to Pakistan-backed operatives.

"The key water-sharing treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism," Mukherjee stated.

Signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, the IWT regulates water sharing between India and Pakistan over the Indus River and its tributaries. The suspension marks a significant shift in India’s stance following repeated concerns over Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism.

Sources said Pakistan’s Water Resources secretary Syed Ali Murtaza has indicated willingness to engage in discussions over India’s objections, but New Delhi is standing firm on its position.

The suspension is seen as a strong diplomatic signal amid growing tensions and ongoing efforts to curb terror infrastructure operating from across the border.