By Sarita Chaganti Singh, Shivam Patel and Ariba Shahid
NEW DELHI/KARACHI (WARNEWS) – A crucial water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan continues to be put on hold, as reported by four governmental sources to WARNEWS, even though both nations have agreed upon a truce over the weekend following several days of lethal confrontations.
The Indus Waters Treaty, facilitated by the World Bank in 1960, governs the allocation of water from the Indus River and its tributaries among South Asian countries.
India withdrew from it last month following a fatal assault on Hindu visitors in Kashmir, which it claimed was supported by Islamabad.
Pakistan refuted any role in the unrest and announced that it was gearing up to take international legal actions due to the suspension of the agreement, which provides water for 80% of its agricultural lands.
“The Indus Waters Treaty wasn’t actually included in the (cessation of hostilities) talks,” stated a source within Pakistan’s water ministry.
A representative from the Indian government similarly informed WAR NEWS that their position regarding the treaty remained unchanged.
The Indian foreign ministry did not provide an instant reaction to the issue, nor did officials from Pakistan’s water ministry and information minister respond immediately.
The pact was one of many tit-for-tat measures taken by the South Asian nations after the Kashmir attack, including closure of land borders, suspension of trade, and a pause on issuance of almost all categories of visas to each other’s citizens.
Two officials from the Indian government informed WARNEWS that all actions directed at Pakistan, encompassing trade restrictions and visa policies, will stay unchanged regardless of the ceasefire between both nations.
The Indian foreign ministry did not promptly reply to requests seeking comments on the issue.
India and Pakistan have been involved in frequent skirmishes since Wednesday after India launched attacks on several sites in Pakistan, which they claimed were “terrorist camps.”
Fighting paused on Saturday evening with the countries reaching what Pakistan termed a “ceasefire agreement” and India called an agreement to “stop all firing and military action.”
(Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh and Shivam Patel in New Delhi and Ariba Shahid in Karachi, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Krishna N. Das and Tomasz Janowski)
