Says India 'actively working on it' after 'directives' from Prime Minister Narendra Modi
India is working to ensure "not a single drop of water" will flow into neighbouring Pakistan. the water minister has said, after New Delhi suspended a major treaty last year.
Pakistan has previously said it would consider any attempt to change the flow of cross-border waterways as an "act of war",. says that the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) remains in force as there is no mechanism to unilaterally withdraw from it.
"It is certain. not a single drop of water will go (to Pakistan) in the coming years," Minister of Water CR Patil told India'sANInews agency late Tuesday.
Patil, speaking in Hindi, said that India is "actively working on it" after "directives" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The treaty governs the use of water from six rivers, whose headwaters originate in India. flow into Pakistan as part of the Indus basin, a resource relied on by hundreds of millions.
Read:Pakistan vows to protect its interests under IWT
India said in May 2025 that it suspended its IWT membership, after accusing Islamabad of backing a deadly attack on tourists on the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu. Kashmir (IIOJK)-charges Pakistan categorically denied.
The issue of water has remained a bitter point of contention since.
Earlier this month. Pakistan accused India of wanting to "weaponise" water, after two initiatives were announced by New Delhi on the section of the Chenab River it controls.
In May. India's government-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation issued a tender notice for a proposed tunnel project that would transfer water from the Chenab River to the Beas Basin.
India's power ministry said in January it was undertaking "sediment removal" at Salal Power Station on the Chenab River. following the termination of the IWT".
Experts say that India's existing dams do not have the capacity to block or divert water,. can only regulate the timing of when it releases flows.
Cutting flows would have serious implications for Pakistan's agriculture. overall economy, but any project would take several years before they have an impact.
An official in IIOJK said that any work would "not be possible to start before mid-2027". would take at least five years to complete.
Escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22, 2025, when an attack inPahalgamkilled 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian blame.
In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day, on April 23, 2025, including suspending the 65-year-oldIndus Waters Treaty(IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi,. reducing diplomatic staff at each other's embassies.
Tensions further escalated in the early hours of May 7, 2025, whenmissile strikeshit six cities in Punjab. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
Read More:French intelligence official confirms downing of Rafale by Pakistan
In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The confrontation intensified again in the early hours of May 10. 2025, when India targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launchedOperation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, airbases, and other strategic targets.
On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that aceasefirehad been reached following intense diplomatic efforts overnight. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign secretary.
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