New Delhi — In a forceful rebuttal to Pakistan’s claims over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India on Thursday emphasized that it had honored the agreement for more than six decades despite repeated provocations, including wars and terrorism emanating from across the border.
Speaking at a media briefing in New Delhi on Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri dismissed Pakistan’s narrative as disinformation, stressing that India had repeatedly sought to initiate discussions to modify the 1960 treaty in light of evolving circumstances—efforts that Islamabad consistently ignored.
“There have been fundamental changes in the conditions under which the Indus Waters Treaty was signed,” Misri said. “Over the past two years, India has sent several notices to Pakistan seeking negotiations for a reassessment. Despite numerous provocations and even armed conflicts, India has abided by the treaty for over 65 years.”
The suspension of the IWT comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. India’s government has taken a series of strong steps in response, including the launching of Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to taking decisive action against terrorism and those who support it.
India has long maintained that “blood and water cannot flow together,” and now, with the suspension of the IWT, it is leveraging international legal frameworks to exert pressure on Pakistan to end its support for cross-border terrorism.
“Pakistan has consistently violated the spirit of the treaty, obstructing India’s legitimate efforts to develop projects on both Eastern and Western rivers—rights clearly permitted under the agreement,” Misri said. “It is only due to India’s remarkable patience that we have continued to honor the treaty for so long despite numerous provocations.”
India has formally notified Pakistan of its decision to suspend the treaty, citing significantly altered demographics, the need for accelerated clean energy development, and outdated technical assumptions dating back to the 1950s and 60s as the basis for the decision.
“Pakistan has not responded to our calls for dialogue. This treaty is based on obsolete engineering concepts, and the time has come to reevaluate it in light of today’s technological advancements,” Misri added.
He also addressed and dismissed reports from Pakistan alleging Indian strikes on the Neelum-Jhelum dam in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “These claims are entirely false. India has targeted only terrorist infrastructure. Any attempt to use such fabrications as a pretext to attack Indian infrastructure will place full responsibility on Pakistan for the consequences,” he warned.
Misri reiterated that the original escalation began with Pakistan’s terror strike on April 22, and India’s actions have been in response to that aggression. He further cautioned that if Pakistan chooses to escalate further, India will respond in a domain of its choosing.
“Pakistan now faces a clear choice,” he said. “Any further escalation will be met with a firm and appropriate response.”
India’s position has found growing resonance globally, as the international community increasingly views Pakistan as a destabilizing force and a hub for terror networks. The Pahalgam attack has reignited calls for holding Islamabad accountable for sponsoring terrorism and threatening regional peace. (Source: IANS)
