New Delhi: India on Friday reaffirmed its stand on the suspended Indus Water Treaty after Pakistan issued fresh warnings over the agreement. The Ministry
of External Affairs said New Delhi’s position has not changed and linked the suspension of the treaty to Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a media briefing and rejected suggestions that India had altered its approach.
“India’s position on the Indus Water Treaty is consistent. The IWT stands in abeyance in response to Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal said.
Pakistan minister ‘warns’ India
The MEA’s response came after Pakistan’s climate change minister Musadik Malik issued a strong warning against India earlier this week. According to Dawn, Malik accused India of trying to control the flow of water under the treaty and warned of retaliation.
“There is a tap being controlled by the prime minister of a neighbouring country. He says he will not let even a drop of water flow into Pakistan,” Malik said, according to Dawn.
He also said Islamabad would “cut off those hands” that sought to control the Indus water. His remarks appeared in several Pakistani media reports and circulated widely on social media.
Pakistan raises issue of ‘weaponisation of water’
Before Malik’s statement, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also criticised India’s decision to suspend the treaty. According to the Associated Press, Dar said any move to block Pakistan’s share of water would amount to the “weaponization of water” and could affect regional peace and security.
“Shared waters must never be weaponized. They should remain a bridge between nations, guided by cooperation, dialogue, and respect for international law for the benefit of present and future generations,” Dar was quoted as saying.
Dar described water as essential for human dignity, food security, economic development and environmental sustainability.
Pakistan calls suspension illegal
Dar also argued that India’s decision to suspend the treaty had no legal basis. He said Pakistan continued to regard the Indus Water Treaty as valid and binding under international law.
“No party can unilaterally suspend or terminate obligations under a treaty that contains no such provision,” he said.
India suspended the treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. Since then, New Delhi has maintained that Pakistan must take credible and irreversible action against cross-border terrorism before any change in India’s position can be considered.
