Weeks after India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has indicated a willingness to engage in talks over India’s long-standing concerns regarding the agreement, according to official sources.
Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary, Syed Ali Murtaza, has formally responded to a communication from his Indian counterpart, Debashree Mukherjee, expressing Islamabad’s readiness to address specific issues raised by New Delhi. In his letter, Murtaza also questioned the legal validity of India’s suspension of the treaty, emphasizing that the agreement does not contain any provision for unilateral withdrawal.
Despite this outreach, Indian officials have shown no indication of reversing the decision. While the Jal Shakti Ministry has declined to comment publicly, government sources maintain that the suspension is a response to ongoing cross-border terrorism targeting Jammu and Kashmir.
In an earlier letter dated April 24, Mukherjee had informed Pakistan that its consistent refusal to participate in negotiations under the treaty framework, coupled with its support for terrorism, represented a violation of the treaty’s principles.
Pakistan’s recent communication has appealed to India to reconsider the suspension, citing the reliance of millions on the treaty-regulated water flows. The appeal coincided with India conducting maintenance work, including flushing and desilting, at the Baglihar and Salal hydropower plants on the Chenab river.
While Murtaza’s response signals a slight softening in tone, officials noted that the letter still characterizes India’s move as “unilateral and illegal.” Indian sources argue that the evolving situation—including sustained terrorism and environmental changes—justifies a re-evaluation of the treaty.
India had previously issued notices to Pakistan regarding the treaty in January 2023 and again in September 2024.
The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the allocation and use of the Indus river system’s waters between India and Pakistan. This river network, which includes the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), is vital to both nations’ agriculture and livelihoods.
