New Delhi: India has made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will remain in abeyance until Islamabad takes credible action against cross border terrorism. At the same time, New Delhi has also communicated its views to Bangladesh over developments connected to the Teesta River, another important shared water resource in South Asia.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty remains unchanged. New Delhi has maintained that Pakistan must stop supporting cross border terrorism before there can be any reconsideration of the decision. Pakistan has rejected India's allegations and continues to oppose the decision to keep the treaty in abeyance.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with the support of the World Bank, has survived decades of difficult relations and military conflicts between India and Pakistan. It governs the sharing of waters from six rivers in the Indus river system. The treaty has long been seen as one of the few agreements that continued to function even during periods of serious tension between the two neighbours.
However, the situation changed after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, which killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan linked militants for the attack and announced that the treaty would be placed in abeyance. New Delhi said the arrangement would remain suspended until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly ended its support for cross border terrorism.
Pakistan denied involvement in the attack and strongly criticised India’s decision. Pakistani leaders have repeatedly argued that India cannot unilaterally suspend the agreement. Islamabad has also explored international legal and diplomatic options to challenge New Delhi's position.
The water dispute has since become another major point of tension between the two countries. Pakistani officials have accused India of using water as a tool of political pressure. They have warned that any serious disruption to river flows could have major consequences for Pakistan, where agriculture and millions of people depend heavily on the Indus river system.
India, however, has maintained that its security concerns cannot be separated from its relationship with Pakistan. New Delhi has also rejected certain international arbitration proceedings connected to the treaty. Indian officials have argued that some of these processes lack proper authority and have said that India does not recognise decisions taken by bodies that it considers improperly constituted.
The growing dispute has also raised questions about the future of water management in the region. India has been examining ways to increase the use of river water for domestic needs, including irrigation and power generation. Such moves are closely watched in Pakistan because of the country's heavy dependence on the Indus river system.
Alongside the dispute with Pakistan, India has also confirmed that it conveyed its views to Bangladesh regarding the Teesta River issue. The Teesta is an important shared river for both India and Bangladesh and is especially important for farming and irrigation.
Water sharing on the Teesta has remained a sensitive issue between New Delhi and Dhaka for many years. Bangladesh has long sought a larger and more predictable share of the river's dry season water. India has said that any agreement must also consider the needs and concerns of the Indian state of West Bengal.
The latest communication comes as Bangladesh continues to consider plans connected to the management and development of the Teesta River. India is closely following these developments because the river crosses international borders and any major project could have environmental, economic and strategic implications.
While the Indus and Teesta issues are different in nature, both show the growing importance of rivers in South Asian diplomacy. Climate change, population growth, agricultural demand and the need for electricity are putting increasing pressure on shared water resources across the region.
For India, the Indus dispute is now closely connected with national security and terrorism concerns. The Teesta issue, meanwhile, remains part of a broader diplomatic discussion with Bangladesh. New Delhi's latest statements indicate that it is taking a firm position on the Indus question while continuing diplomatic communication with Dhaka over the Teesta.
With no immediate sign of a breakthrough between India and Pakistan, the future of the Indus Waters Treaty remains uncertain. At the same time, discussions over the Teesta are likely to remain an important part of India Bangladesh relations as both countries seek to protect their interests while managing a vital shared river.