New Delhi: In response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 28 people were killed, India on Wednesday announced a series of measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960 with immediate effect. The treaty was suspended until Islamabad credibly and irrevocably withdrew its support for cross-border terrorism.
The treaty was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960. Last year in September, India sent formal notice to Pakistan to review and modify the Indus Waters Treaty. It was signed under the leadership of then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the second Pakistan President Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan.
All About The Treaty:
Signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi the treaty deals with water distribution between India and Pakistan. The Work Bank negotiated the treaty to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries.
The Indus system of rivers comprises the main river -- the Indus -- along with its five left-bank tributaries, namely, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej, the Jhelum and the Chenab. The right bank tributary, the Kabul, does not flow through India.
Indus River (File Image) | PTI
The Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej are together called eastern rivers while the Chenab, the Jhelum and the Indus Main are called western rivers. Its waters are critical to both India and Pakistan.
After partition in 1947, the boundary line between the two newly created independent countries --- Pakistan and India --- was drawn right across the Indus Basin, leaving Pakistan as the lower riparian and India as the upper riparian.
As per the treaty, India enjoys the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects on the western rivers. However, Pakistan has the right to raise objections on the design of these projects.
Steps Taken By India against Pakistan After The Pahalgam Attack:
India announced a series of measures against Pakistan in view of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The announcement was made by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a press conference after the high-level Cabinet Committee on Security or CCS meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri today said in the press conference, "Recognising the seriousness of this terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided upon the following measures:
1) The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
2) The integrated checkpost Attari has been closed. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 1st May 2025.
3) Pakistani nationals are not permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India.
4) The Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared persona non grata. They have a week to leave India.
5) India withdrew its own Defence, Navy and Air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled.
