Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 16: As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to simmer, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Thursday issued a categorical rejection to Islamabad’s plea for reopening talks on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), asserting that the pact will remain suspended until Pakistan brings an "irrevocable end to cross-border terrorism."
The minister’s tough stand follows a letter received by New Delhi from Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary, Syed Ali Murtaza, who sought discussions on concerns raised by India over the past three years regarding water sharing under the six-river Indus system. However, top government sources have confirmed that India has no intention of responding to the proposal as of now.
Speaking at the sidelines of the inauguration of the Embassy of Honduras, Jaishankar minced no words. “The Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to remain so until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably stops cross-border terrorism,” he said. He further demanded that Pakistan must also "hand over wanted terrorists and vacate the illegally occupied territories in Jammu and Kashmir."
The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, permits India full use of the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while granting Pakistan rights over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. While India can use a limited amount of water from the western rivers for power generation, irrigation, and drinking purposes in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, it cannot store beyond the permissible limit under IWT.
India had suspended the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) talks in 2023, demanding a renegotiation of the 63-year-old agreement at the governmental level. The last PIC meeting took place in Delhi in May 2022.
Jaishankar’s remarks also come in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre in April, where 25 tourists and a local lost their lives in a brutal terrorist attack, prompting India to freeze the treaty engagement entirely.
Responding to queries about any potential bilateral discussions with Pakistan, the minister said dialogue could only be considered if it focused solely on dismantling Pakistan’s terror infrastructure and addressing the illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
He also dismissed any possibility of third-party mediation, including past offers by US President Donald Trump. “Our relations and dealings with Pakistan will be strictly bilateral. That has been the national consensus for decades and it remains unchanged,” Jaishankar emphasized.
India’s latest stance sends a strong message—security concerns will take precedence over legacy treaties unless concrete steps are taken by Islamabad to curb terrorism and respect India’s sovereignty