India has said the Indus Waters Treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan permanently stops supporting cross-border terrorism. The government’s position comes amid fresh remarks from Pakistan defending the treaty and presenting it as important for peace and cooperation in the region.
The treaty, which governs sharing of the Indus river system, has become a new flashpoint between the two neighbours. India has repeatedly said that normal treaty operation cannot resume unless Pakistan takes irreversible steps to end support for terror groups operating from its soil.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has been trying to internationalise the issue. Earlier this week, it hosted a conference on the Indus and water sharing. At the event, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the treaty as vital for regional peace, stability and cooperation.
New Delhi has rejected that line of argument and kept its stand unchanged. Indian officials have said the treaty remains in abeyance because Pakistan has not acted firmly against cross-border terrorism. India has also made it clear that the suspension is linked to national security concerns, not just water-sharing differences.
The dispute comes after rising tension between the two countries in recent months. India first placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack, saying it was no longer possible to separate water cooperation from terrorism concerns. Since then, the government has maintained that Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably end terror support before the treaty can be restored.
The Indus Waters Treaty has long been seen as one of the few surviving agreements between India and Pakistan. Even so, the current standoff shows how deeply bilateral ties have deteriorated. What was once a technical water-sharing arrangement has now become part of the wider security and diplomatic conflict.
For now, India’s message is clear: the treaty will stay in abeyance until Pakistan takes real and lasting action against cross-border terrorism. Islamabad’s appeals for dialogue on water sharing have not changed that position.
