Union Home Minister Amit Shah has declared that the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will “never be restored”, accusing Islamabad of breaching the very essence of the agreement. In an interview with The Times of India, Shah clarified that while international norms prevent India from unilaterally withdrawing from the 1960 treaty, it has legally suspended the pact.
“No, it will never be restored. International treaties cannot be annulled unilaterally, but we have the right to put it in abeyance, which we have done,” Shah said.
“Once that has been violated, there is nothing left to protect,” he added, citing the treaty’s preamble that was based on ensuring “peace and progress” between the two countries.
India to redirect water toward Rajasthan
The decision to formally suspend the treaty came in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan-based terror outfits. The move was part of a broader diplomatic retaliation that included the expulsion of Pakistani nationals.
Shah announced that India would now utilise waters flowing into Pakistan through new canal infrastructure directed towards Rajasthan.
“Pakistan will be deprived of water that it has been receiving unjustifiably,” he said.
Pahalgam attack ‘an attempt to sabotage peace’
Shah described the terror strike in Pahalgam as a “deliberate attempt to sabotage peace in Kashmir, disrupt rising tourism, and distract Kashmiri youth.” He highlighted how the region had shown “unprecedented solidarity with the rest of India,” which he claimed was being deliberately targeted.
“Whatever Pakistan chooses to do, we will respond without delay,” Shah asserted.
He claimed that India had retaliated by damaging Pakistani airbases after Islamabad targeted civilian areas, and that the response had pushed Pakistan to seek a de-escalation.
Targeted strikes after Pahalgam: Shah
Shah reaffirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally committed to avenging the Pahalgam attack, and India had carried out “limited strikes” on terror infrastructure near the Line of Control.
“We made it clear these were targeted strikes. However, Pakistan viewed our action against terrorists as an attack on its territory, blurring that distinction,” he said.
Sharp response to Congress criticism
Responding to the Congress party’s disapproval of recent military actions, including Operation Sindoor, Shah lashed out at the Opposition, accusing them of inaction during their own tenure.
“I want to ask Congress—what used to happen during their time? They did nothing except change a minister,” Shah said.
“Of all political parties, Congress certainly has no right to criticise us on terrorism.”