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May 10, 2025 : Though India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire after several days of intense military conflict, the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended, according to four senior government sources. The longstanding water-sharing agreement, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the distribution of water from the Indus River system between the two nuclear-armed nations.
India had unilaterally suspended the treaty last month in response to a deadly terrorist attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir, which it attributed to Pakistan-backed militants.
Two Indian government officials told Reuters that New Delhi will maintain all punitive measures against Islamabad, including restrictions on trade, visas, and other bilateral arrangements, despite the current pause in hostilities. The Indian foreign ministry has not issued an official statement regarding the continuation of the treaty’s suspension.
Fighting between the countries began last Wednesday, after India launched strikes on alleged terrorist camps inside Pakistan. These strikes followed the Pahalgam massacre, which left 26 civilians dead. The two sides exchanged fire for several days, prompting fears of escalation.
While the ceasefire announced Saturday evening has temporarily halted military actions, core disputes remain unresolved. India referred to the agreement as a decision to “stop all firing and military action,” while Pakistan labeled it a “ceasefire agreement.”
A Pakistani official from the water ministry said that the Indus Waters Treaty was not part of the ceasefire discussions, and that Islamabad was preparing to challenge India’s decision through international legal mechanisms, citing the treaty’s role in providing water for over 80% of Pakistani farmland.
Indian sources reiterated that there is “no change in position” regarding the treaty. The broader diplomatic freeze, which includes the closure of land borders, suspension of bilateral trade, and halt in visa issuance, remains firmly in place.
The Indus Waters Treaty has long been considered a cornerstone of Indo-Pakistani relations, surviving several wars. Its continued suspension, even during a ceasefire, underlines the depth of the current rift and India’s hardened stance post-Kashmir attack.
Source : Reuters
