On February 11, 2025 – STATE TIMES had written under the title ,” Time to Punish Pakistan and Bangladesh”, that India should take action against Pakistan for violating terms of the Indus Water Treaty with a specific focus on the cross-border terrorism . This newspaper wrote: “Today, the ill-effects of the wars and proxy war were self-evident in J&K,” and urged the Government to “punish Pakistan with the measures it deserves- that is to do away with the Treaty,” and that” this should be done at the earliest as people of J&K and Punjab cannot be allowed to suffer because of this Treaty in perpetuity., Delhi must take a call.”
OUTLOOK
And Delhi took a call on Wednesday evening after the Cabinet Committee on Security after an over two-hour-long meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , decided : ” The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism.” The CCS also decided to punish Pakistan, with four more measures; (a) the integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid visa endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025, ( b) Pakistan nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has 48 hours to leave India, (c) The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions and ( d) The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be effected by 01 May 2025.”
But the thing that concerns J&K the most is, Indus Waters Treaty, as three of its major rivers – Indus, Chenab and Jhelum were assigned to Pakistan for its control over their waters. These rivers flow is 91 billion cubic meters, of which more than 70 per cent goes to Pakistan, while India retains only 30 per cent and that too with restrictions. This Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 with World Bank’s mediation has been unfair to India, but somehow the country carried on with it even when there was a pressure to scrap it. This magnanimity cannot be everlasting, particularly when Pakistan did not cease its terror attacks on the Indian soil.
The CCS decision announced on Wednesday came against the backdrop of the massacre of 28 tourists in mead Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, the world famous tourist resort in the Kashmir Valley. Terrorists showered bullets on unsuspecting tourists, including newly-wed couples on their honeymoon trip. The attack and its shocking impact left the whole of the nation stunned and shocked, while the world leaders came out to condemn it and demonstrate their solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism.
At the moment, suspending IWT is diplomatic and if Pakistan refuses to exhibit its failure to stop cross-border terrorism into India, it can be used as a big counter-terrorism tool against terrorism c propagated and exported from Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already hinted at that in his speech in Madhubani, Bihar, on Thursday. His words should not leave Pakistan in any illusion that its acts will go unpunished. This time a severe and unforgettable punishment is on anvil if it doesn’t retreat cross-border terrorism.
