New Delhi: Despite a ceasefire agreement halting days of intense cross-border violence, the landmark Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan remains suspended, according to four government sources cited by Reuters.
The treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the distribution of water from the Indus River system between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. It plays a crucial role in securing irrigation for roughly 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural lands.
India suspended its participation in the treaty last month following a deadly assault on Hindu tourists in Kashmir, which it alleged was backed by Islamabad. Pakistan has categorically denied any involvement in the incident and has indicated plans to pursue international legal measures in response to the suspension.
“Indus Waters Treaty was not really a part of (ceasefire) discussions,” said a source from Pakistan’s water ministry.
An Indian government source similarly told Reuters there was “no change in stand” regarding the treaty.
No immediate comments were issued by India’s foreign ministry or from Pakistan’s water ministry and information minister.
The water-sharing pact is just one among several retaliatory actions taken by both countries following the Kashmir attack. These include the sealing of land borders, suspension of bilateral trade, and halting of nearly all visa categories for each other’s citizens.
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Two senior Indian government officials confirmed to Reuters that all existing punitive measures, including trade embargoes and visa restrictions, would remain in effect despite the ceasefire agreement.
India’s foreign ministry has not responded to fresh requests for comment on the ongoing suspension of these measures.
The recent military confrontation began Wednesday, after India carried out strikes on what it described as “terrorist camps” inside Pakistani territory. This triggered days of retaliatory shelling and drone attacks, resulting in civilian and military casualties on both sides.
Tensions subsided on Saturday evening when both nations agreed to halt hostilities. Pakistan officially referred to the development as a “ceasefire agreement,” while Indian authorities described it as a commitment to “stop all firing and military action.”
