India will never reinstate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, and the river water will be redirected for domestic use, Home Minister Amit Shah told Times of India. The treaty, signed in 1960 to govern river water sharing, was unilaterally suspended by Delhi on April 23, after a deadly attack in India-held Kashmir, which it blamed on Pakistan—without evidence. Pakistan denied involvement and demanded a neutral probe.
Despite a recent ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours, the treaty remains frozen. Pakistan condemned India’s suspension as a “blatant violation” and vowed to respond, as per the National Security Committee’s April 24 decision.
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Shah emphasized that water once flowing to Pakistan would now be diverted to Rajasthan through a new canal. “Pakistan will be starved of water it got unjustifiably,” he said.
Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opposed the move, citing water shortages in Jammu and questioning why Punjab should receive more water when it had denied help in the past during the Ujh and Shahpur Kandi disputes.
Pakistan is considering legal options, stressing the treaty cannot be unilaterally revoked and warning that obstructing river flow could be seen as an act of war.
