IWT will be in abeyance till Pakistan irrevocably stops sponsoring cross-border terrorism: Govt.

India on Friday (July 3, 2026) said the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain in “abeyance” till Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” stops supporting cross-border terrorism.

Official spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Randhir Jaiswal made the remark in the context of a recent international conference held in Pakistan where it called for the restoration of the treaty. The country is dealing with a severe heatwave.

“The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross border terrorism,” said Mr. Jaiswal at a media briefing.

Earlier this week, Pakistan organised a conference on the Indus and water sharing where the country’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar referred to the IWT as vital for “regional peace, stability and cooperation”.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had put the treaty in abeyance a day after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, killed 26 civilians and injured dozens more. The attack ultimately led to India’s strikes on terror targets inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.

“The IWT was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for decades,” Mr. Jaiswal had said on May 13, 2025. “Please also note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on the ground.”

On May 22 last year, Mr. Jaiswal had said that India was willing to discuss with Pakistan the modality to get custody of “noted terrorists whose list was provided to Pakistan some years ago”. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks, he had said on that occasion: “Water and blood cannot flow together”.

India has intensified the rhetoric on Pakistan in recent weeks, especially against the backdrop of protests and police crackdown in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.