New Delhi, May 7 (JKNS): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the Indus Waters Treaty continues to remain in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack last year, while reiterating that India retains every right to respond firmly against cross-border terrorism.
As per news agency JKNS, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing a press briefing in New Delhi on the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, said India had given a “strong and befitting response” after the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed.
He said the international community had clearly recognised the nature of the attack and acknowledged the continued challenge posed by cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
“India has every right to defend itself against terrorism. The world knows that cross-border terrorism has long been used as an instrument of state policy by Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.
The MEA spokesperson stated that New Delhi remains committed to strengthening international cooperation against terrorism and maintaining pressure against terror networks operating from across the border.
On the Indus Waters Treaty, Jaiswal said the agreement remains suspended in view of Pakistan’s continued support to cross-border terrorism and asserted that Islamabad must take “credible and irreversible” steps to end such activities.
The Indus Waters Treaty, governing river water sharing between India and Pakistan, was placed in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack, marking a major shift in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Officials said several strategic water infrastructure projects, including the Baglihar Hydroelectric Project in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, continue to remain operational under the changed arrangement.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, 2025 in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. The operation involved coordinated strikes on terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Officials had described the operation as a calibrated tri-services military response aimed at dismantling terror networks and deterring future attacks. (JKNS)