The Indian government has declared that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is “in abeyance” following a statement by Pakistani officials that they would “cut hand” over the treaty. A spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, told reporters that India’s position on the treaty remains unchanged, but that the treaty is effectively suspended because Pakistan continues to “sponsor cross‑border terrorism.”
Jaiswal said the IWT “stands in abeyance” and that India’s stance is “consistent” with its long‑standing policy of upholding the treaty. He added that Pakistan’s “continued sponsorship of cross‑border terrorism” is a “key factor” in the decision to keep the treaty on hold. The spokesperson did not elaborate on how long the abeyance would last or what steps India might take to restore the treaty’s operative status.
The Pakistani statement that prompted the Indian response came earlier this month, when lawmakers in Islamabad referred to the treaty as “a relic of the past” and threatened to “cut hand” if India continued to engage in what they called “unilateral actions” on the river.
India has administered the Indus River basin under the terms of the treaty since 1960, a pact that has been described as a model of water‑sharing cooperation between the two nuclear‑armed neighbours. The treaty has survived several wars and political crises, but both sides have occasionally called for its suspension over disputes about water usage and infrastructure projects.
The MEA’s comment comes amid a broader diplomatic spat between India and Pakistan over security and terrorism issues. Islamabad has repeatedly accused New Delhi of supporting militant groups that operate across the border, while New Delhi has condemned Pakistan’s support for such groups.
No official statement has yet been released by the Pakistani government regarding the abeyance remark. The Indian government has not yet indicated whether it will seek to negotiate a new framework for the treaty or simply maintain the status quo.
Analysis: The MEA’s use of the term “abeyance” signals a diplomatic pause rather than a formal termination of the treaty. By linking Pakistan’s alleged terrorist sponsorship to the treaty’s status, India is framing the dispute as a security issue rather than a technical water‑sharing problem. The move may be aimed at pressuring Islamabad to address India’s security concerns before any formal negotiations can resume. However, the statement also risks escalating tensions over water resources, a critical issue for millions of people in the Indus basin.
Sources
1. Hindustan Times, “MEA says Indus Water Treaty in abeyance days after Pakistan’s will cut hand threat,” https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mea-says-indus-water-treaty-in-abeyance-days-after-pakistans-will-cut-hand-threat-101783076393729.html
Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
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