New Delhi [India], April 25 (HBTV): The Central government has issued an official notification to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, sources said on Friday.

On Thursday, Jal Shakti Ministry Secretary Debashree Mukherjee wrote to her Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza, stating that the Government of India had decided that 'the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect'.

According to the letter, 'these communications cited fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the Treaty was executed that require a re-assessment of obligations under the various Articles of the Treaty read with its Annexures'.

The move follows a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday in light of the terror attack near Pahalgam town in Jammu and Kashmir.

In response to the attack, the Central government announced a series of diplomatic measures, including the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, the suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals—giving them 40 hours to return to their country—and the downsizing of diplomatic staff at both Indian and Pakistani High Commissions.

India also decided to halt the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960.

The terror attack occurred on April 22, when militants targeted tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, and injuring several others.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank acting as a broker and signatory. Initiated by former World Bank President Eugene Black, the Treaty is widely regarded as one of the most enduring and successful water-sharing agreements in the world. It has withstood multiple conflicts and crises, offering a consistent framework for irrigation and hydropower development for over six decades.

Under the Treaty, the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) are allocated to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. However, each country is permitted limited use of the rivers allocated to the other. India is allowed to utilise up to 20 per cent of the Indus River System waters, while the remaining 80 per cent is allocated to Pakistan.   

(ANI)