India formally informs Pakistan about suspension of Indus Waters Treaty

Mukharjee in his letter mentioned reasons behind decision of Indian government

By Khalid Mustafa
April 25, 2025
An undated photograph of an aerial view of the Indus river flowing through Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir(IIOJK). — AFP/File
An undated photograph of an aerial view of the Indus river flowing through Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir(IIOJK). — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: India on Thursday formally informed Pakistan that New Delhi has held the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 in abeyance with immediate effect.

The government of India sent a letter on April 24, 2025 signed by Debashree Mukharjee, Secretary of Ministry of Jal Shakti addressed to Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, saying that India has decided that the Indus Waters Treaty will be held in abeyance with an immediate fact. Mukharjee in his letter mentioned the reasons behind the decision of the Indian government alleging that Pakistan is targeting the India Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The resulting security uncertainties have directly impeded India’s full utilisation 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,” says the letter.