New Delhi: India on Thursday wrote a letter to Pakistan informing it of New Delhi’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with immediate effect. In its letter, India accused Pakistan of breaching the conditions of the treaty.
Since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed nearly 26 people, tensions between India and Pakistan have increased with India taking several steps including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and asking Pakistani citizens to leave the country within 24 hours.
“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,” the letter read. It added, “The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India’s full utilization of its rights under the treaty.”
‘Pakistan refused India’s request for negotiations under treaty’
The letter also highlighted that Pakistan “significantly altered population demographics, the need to accelerate the development of clean energy, and other changes.”. “…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,” the letter further said.
On Wednesday, Pakistan responded to India’s suspension of the treaty pointing out that any decision to stop the flow of water “belonging to Pakistan” under the agreement would be considered an “act of war”. “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 riparian will be considered as an act of war,” Pakistan said in a statement. The Indus River system consists of the main river as well as its tributaries. Among them are Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum, and Chenab, which are its left-bank tributaries.
