The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, referred to the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan as the “most unjust document,” claiming it has never received support from the local population.
On Friday, Abdullah, along with local business leaders, observed a moment of silence for the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 28 fatalities. This attack prompted India to suspend the 1960 treaty, which was mediated by the World Bank, as a response to the violence.
During a meeting with various tourism and trade representatives, Abdullah addressed the central government’s decision, noting that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have never supported the Indus Waters Treaty. He mentioned that the long-term effects of this suspension remain to be seen.
Reports say that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting about the treaty at his home in New Delhi, with Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, and other top officials attending. This meeting follows India’s formal notification to Pakistan about the treaty’s suspension, a decision made during a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 23.
In response, Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to halt water sharing will be viewed as an “act of war.” Pakistan’s Power Minister, Awais Leghari, criticized India’s actions, criticizing the suspension of the treaty as a “timid and illegal act of water aggression.”
The Indus Waters Treaty, arranged by the World Bank and signed by both countries, explains how water from the Indus River and its five tributaries—Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Jhelum—should be shared and Chenab—should be shared and how information should be exchanged between the two countries. The treaty was established after extensive negotiations lasting over nine years, following the first war over Kashmir.
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