Pahalgam Attack: India Suspends Indus Water Treaty, Cites Breach Of Terms; Pakistan Calls It An 'Act of War'

In view of the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, India on Thursday formally notified Pakistan to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with immediate effect.

In a formal letter from India's Water Resources Secretary Debashree Mukherjee to her Pakistani counterpart Syed Ali Murtaza, it is stated that Islamabad had breached the treaty conditions through sustained cross-border terrorism targeting Jammu and Kashmir, according to reports.

The letter reads: The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

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"The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India's full utilization of its rights under the Treaty. Furthermore, apart from other breaches committed by it, Pakistan has refused to respond to India's request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the Treaty and is thus in breach of the Treaty," it added.

"The Government of India has hereby decided that the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect."

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Earlier in the day, Pakistan's government, reacting to a series of diplomatic moves by India, warned that diverting water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty would be viewed as an 'act of war'.

The National Security Committee (NSC) stated, "Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparians will be considered as an act of war.

Since 1960, the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty has governed the use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan.