NEW DELHI: Indian embassy in Washington on Friday issued a statement defending its decision to freeze the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, and asserting that cooperation cannot continue with a nation responsible for civilian casualties.
In a statement issued in the the wake of brutal terrorists attack in J&K’s Pahalgam, India said that Pakistan ,through its well-documented , state-sponsored terrorism has corroded the spirit of the treaty.
“The Indus Water Treaty was concluded by India with Pakistan in a spirit of goodwill and friendship in 1960. Pakistan through its well- documented, state-sponsored terrorism directed against India has corroded this spirit,” the statement read.
“India cannot be expected to continue to cooperate with a country which is responsible for killing innocent civilians,” it added.
This comes after India formally communicated to Pakistan that the 1960 treaty will be held in abeyance with immediate effect.
“The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” Jalshakti ministry secretary Debashree Mukherjee said in a letter marked to her Pakistan counterpart Syed Ali Murtaza.
Earlier, Pakistan said any attempt to divert water meant for it under the Indus Waters Treaty will be an “act of war.”
India on Wednesday had announced a series of strong retaliatory measures targeting Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism, after the deadly terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam.
Following a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined the steps during a special press conference.
The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan ceases support for terrorism. Additionally, the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed immediately, with only those who have valid travel endorsements allowed to return via that route by 1 May 2025. Pakistan nationals are also barred from travelling to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, and any previously issued SPES visas are now cancelled. Those currently in India on such visas must leave within 48 hours.
India has declared all defence, military, naval, and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission persona non grata, giving them one week to leave. Similarly, India will withdraw its own defence advisors from Islamabad.
