Pahalgam Attack LIVE: Not a single drop of Indus water will go to Pakistan, vows Jal Shakti Minister

After a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that left 26 people dead, India has taken a major step by suspending the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The attack, which mainly targeted Indian civilians, has been condemned as one of the most violent incidents in the region in years. A militant group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility for the assault.

In a swift and strong response, the Indian government convened an emergency session of its Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Following the meeting, the government announced the immediate suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, citing Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the suspension would remain in effect until Pakistan stops providing safe havens and support to terrorist groups.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed over six decades ago, outlines the sharing of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan. Under the treaty, Pakistan was granted rights to the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—while India retained control over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. India is allowed to use a limited share of the western waters for non-consumptive purposes such as irrigation, hydropower, and transport.

Reacting to the latest events, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat declared that India would no longer allow even a single drop of Indus water to flow into Pakistan. He emphasized that the government had already been working on projects to utilize India’s full share of the Indus waters, especially for the benefit of states like Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Projects like the Shahpur-Kandi Dam and the Ujh Multipurpose Project are expected to divert water for domestic use that otherwise flowed into Pakistan.

Pakistan, for its part, has denounced India’s move as an aggressive and unlawful act. Officials in Islamabad warned that altering the flow of water could be seen as a breach of international agreements and a hostile act. In retaliation, Pakistan has suspended all bilateral ties and trade agreements with India and closed its airspace to Indian aircraft. Military alertness has also been increased on both sides of the border.

Tensions rose further after a brief exchange of gunfire between Indian and Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC). Though there were no reported casualties, the skirmish has heightened concerns of further escalation. Meanwhile, India has launched a large-scale military operation in Kashmir to hunt down those responsible for the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed that those behind the violence will be brought to justice, and there are growing calls for military retaliation.

The United Nations and other international observers have urged both countries to exercise restraint and return to dialogue. However, with relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors at a new low, the path forward remains uncertain.

India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty marks a significant turning point in its approach toward Pakistan, especially in the context of ongoing terrorist threats. While the move is intended to put pressure on Islamabad, it also risks worsening regional stability and drawing international concern.