New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has issued a strong warning to Pakistan, saying India will not allow the waters of the Sindhu (Indus) river system to benefit those who support terrorism.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries following India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.Addressing an ‘Intellectuals Meet’ organised by the Telangana BJP in Hyderabad, Singh said that India had demonstrated through Operation Sindoor that it knows how to respond to forces that reject peace and harmony. Referring to Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism, the Defence Minister said.
The government had made its position clear after the Pahalgam terror attack. He said India would not permit the Indus river waters to reach those who “patronise terror”. The statement follows India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan.
New Delhi said the move was linked to concerns over cross-border terrorism and stated that the treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible steps against terror networks.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with World Bank involvement, governs the sharing of six rivers between the two countries. Under the agreement, India controls the eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas and Sutlej – while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers, including the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, with certain provisions for India’s usage.
Singh also highlighted India’s broader security approach, saying the country has shown greater resolve in dealing with threats while continuing to strengthen its position internationally. The latest remarks are expected to further intensify the diplomatic dispute between New Delhi and Islamabad, with water sharing becoming a major point of tension alongside security concerns.
