India writes to Pakistan, says suspending Indus Waters Treaty with instant impact, cites cross-border terrorism

India on Thursday formally wrote to Pakistan informing it about New Delhi’s resolution to maintain the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance with instant impact, saying Islamabad breached treaty situations.

The choice to droop decades-old treaty comes within the aftermath of the phobia assault in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam wherein 26 folks, largely vacationers, have been killed on Tuesday.

India mentioned that sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan focusing on Jammu and Kashmir impedes India’s rights beneath Indus Water Treaty.

Signed in 1960, the treaty allocates the jap rivers — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi — to India and the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — to Pakistan.

“The Govt of India has hereby determined that the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 will probably be held in abeyance with instant impact,” reads a letter from Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti to Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan Ministry of Water Sources.

“The duty to honour a treaty in good religion is key to a treaty. Nevertheless, what we have now seen as an alternative is sustained cross border terrorism by Pakistan focusing on the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the letter acknowledged.

Additional stating that the ensuing safety uncertainties have straight impeded India’s full utilization of its rights beneath the Treaty, India added, “Moreover, aside from different breaches dedicated by it, Pakistan has refused to reply to India’s request to enter into negotiations as envisaged beneath the Treaty and is thus in breach of the Treaty.”

During the last two days, downgrading diplomatic ties to retaliate towards Pahalgam assault, India has taken a number of measures, together with the expulsion of its navy attachés, closing the built-in Examine Put up at Attari, and suspending visa companies to Pakistani nationals, whereas revoking present visas.

“All present legitimate visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with impact from April 27. All present legitimate visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with impact from 27 April 2025,” mentioned the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA).

India additionally requested its nationals to keep away from travelling to Pakistan and people in Pakistan have been requested to return to India on the earliest.

The Border Safety Power (BSF) additionally ‘scaled down’ the beating retreat ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki alongside the India-Pakistan border.