'Sustained cross-border terror' has led to Indus Water Treaty abeyance, India writes to Pakistan

India on Thursday (April 24) officially told Pakistan that the Indus Waters Treaty is being put on hold “with immediate effect.” This move comes after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed at least 26 people and injured many others. India cited Pakistan’s ongoing support for cross-border terrorism as the reason for this decision.

Jal Shakti Ministry’s Secretary Debashree Mukherjee sent a formal letter to her Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza, informing about New Delhi’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 in abeyance, marking a major escalation in regional water diplomacy.

“The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," the letter read.

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The letter pointed out major changes that have happened since the treaty was signed — like shifts in population and India’s move toward clean energy. These changes, India said, affect the basic terms on which the agreement was originally based.

India also said that Pakistan has not responded to its request for fresh talks, which are part of the treaty’s own rules.

“The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India’s full utilisation of its rights under the Treaty. Furthermore, apart from other breaches committed by it, Pakistan has refused to respond to India’s request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the Treaty and is thus in breach of the Treaty," the letter read.

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Concluding the letter, Mukherjee declared, “The Government of India has hereby decided that the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect."

Pakistan’s Power Minister Awais Lekhari earlier termed India’s decision to pause the treaty an act of “water warfare”.

“India’s reckless suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is an act of water warfare; a cowardly, illegal move,” Lekhari said in a post on X.