India-Pakistan water pact still frozen despite ceasefire

A landmark water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan remains suspended, despite a ceasefire reached over the weekend following several days of deadly cross-border violence.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, regulates the allocation of water from the Indus River system between the two South Asian neighbors, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

India withdrew from the agreement last month in the wake of a deadly attack on Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir, which it claims was backed by Pakistan—a charge Islamabad firmly denies. Islamabad has said it is preparing to take international legal action in response to the suspension. The treaty is considered vital to Pakistan’s agriculture sector, providing water to roughly 80 per cent of its farmland.

"Indus Waters Treaty was not really a part of [ceasefire] discussions," a Pakistani water ministry official said. An Indian government source similarly stated there had been "no change in stand" on the issue. India’s foreign ministry, along with Pakistan’s water ministry and information minister, have not issued official statements on the treaty’s status. 

The suspension of the treaty is part of a wider diplomatic fallout following the Kashmir attack. Both countries enacted retaliatory measures including the closure of land borders, suspension of bilateral trade, and halting the issuance of most visa categories for each other’s citizens. Two Indian officials said that these punitive measures would remain in place, even as the countries agreed to de-escalate hostilities. India’s foreign ministry has not responded to requests for comment. 

Violence escalated last week after India launched strikes on what it described as “terrorist camps” inside Pakistani territory. The military exchange ended on May 10 evening, with Pakistan referring to the outcome as a "ceasefire agreement," while India described it as a decision to "stop all firing and military action."

By Naila Huseynova