New Delhi: After India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the Pakistani government has gone into a panic mode. According to sources, Pakistan is agitated over the treaty’s suspension, and appealed to India amid looming fears of a future crisis.
Islamabad has urged New Delhi to reconsider its decision, as it said that the move will lead to a crisis in Pakistan. Sources pointed out that Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, has shot off a letter to Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti.
What did Pak water ministry’s letter say
In the letter, he appealed for a reconsideration of the decision. Murtaza’s letter stated that Pakistan is ready to hold talks on the issue. According to sources, the letter has been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs as per the protocol. Sources also indicated that India was unmoved by Pakistan’s plea.
In his address to the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Blood and water cannot flow together.” India is now planning to utilise the waters of the three rivers for its own use. Work on this plan has already begun. In addition, medium-and long-term strategies are also being finalised.
On Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed out that India will keep the Indus Waters Treaty suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures” its support for cross-border terrorism.
Jaiswal’s remarks came just days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following Operation Sindoor, which had escalated military tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
“The Indus Waters Treaty was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for decades,” Jaiswal said.
“Now, as per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision of 23 April, India will keep the Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Please also note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on the ground,” the MEA spokesperson added.
