NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the central government on Wednesday suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan — one of five key decisions taken at the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Five key decisions taken at CSS meet
- The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for
cross-border terrorism . - The integrated checkpost Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 1st May 2025.
- Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa Exemption scheme. Any SPES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SPES visa has 48 hours to leave India.
- The Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They have a week to leave India.
- India will be withdrawing its own Defence, Navy and Air advisors from the
Indian high commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled.
“The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. It resolved that perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account. As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror or conspired to make them possible,” said foreign secretary Vikram Misry.
How will Indus Water Treaty suspension impact Pakistan?
- The Indus River network, comprising the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers, serves as Pakistan’s principal water resource, supporting a population of tens of millions.
- Pakistan relies substantially on this water supply for irrigation, farming and potable water. The agricultural sector contributes 23% to Pakistan’s national income and supports 68% of its rural inhabitants.
- The Indus basin supplies 154.3 million acre-feet of water yearly, which is vital for irrigating extensive agricultural areas and ensuring food security.
- Any interruption to water flow would significantly impact Pakistan’s agricultural sector, a crucial component of its economy and rural livelihoods.
- Reduced water availability will likely lead to lower crop yields, food shortages, and economic instability in rural areas dependent on farming.
- Pakistan already faces critical water management issues such as groundwater depletion, salinization of agricultural lands, and limited water storage capacity.
- The country’s water storage capacity is low, with major dams like Mangla and Tarbela having a combined live storage of only about 14.4 MAF, which is just 10% of Pakistan’s annual water share under the treaty.
- The suspension exacerbates these vulnerabilities by cutting off a guaranteed water supply, leaving Pakistan with fewer options to manage its water needs.
How closing Attari border will impact trade?
Attari, located just 28 kilometres from Amritsar, is India’s first Land Port and the only permitted land route for trade with Pakistan. Spread across 120 acres and directly connected to national highway-I, the check post has played a crucial role in cross-border trade, particularly in imports from Afghanistan.
The Attari-Wagah corridor has witnessed fluctuating figures in trade and passenger movement over the years. In 2023-24, the land port recorded trade worth Rs 3,886.53 crore with 6,871 cargo movements and 71,563 passenger crossings.
The Attari Land Port has long served as a critical trade conduit between India and Pakistan, handling a variety of goods. Key Indian exports through the route include soybean, chicken feed, vegetables, red chilies, plastic dana, and plastic yarn. On the other side, imports from Pakistan and beyond have largely comprised dry fruits, dry dates, gypsum, cement, glass, rock salt, and various herbs.
The closure of the port is expected to significantly impact the movement of these goods, particularly affecting small traders and manufacturers who rely on this cross-border exchange. However, volumes have generally declined since 2018-19, reflecting ongoing tensions and disruptions.
Earlier, Defence minister Rajnath Singh had assured the nation of a “loud and clear” response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 28 people, mostly tourists.
Rajanth Singh said that the government would hunt down not only the perpetrators who carried out the ghastly attack, but also those behind the scenes.
