Indus Water Treaty To Remain In Abeyance, Only Thing Left To Discuss Is Vacating PoK: Jaishankar
External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that the Indus Waters Treaty will continue to remain in abeyance until Pakistan puts an end to cross-border terrorism credibly and irrevocably. Speaking to media, Jaishankar said the only thing which remains to be discussed on Kashmir is the vacating of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir; we are open to that discussion.
Speaking on the cessation of firing and military action between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar said that it is clear who wanted the cessation of firing.
"We achieved the goals which we set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure. Since key goals were achieved, I think we reasonably took the position, because even at the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at terrorist infrastructure and not military and the military has an option to stand out and not interfere. They chose not to take that good advice. Once they got badly hit on the morning of 10th May. The satellite pictures show how much damage we did and what little damage they did. It is clear who wanted cessation of firing…,” Jaishankar said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
On Tuesday, India made it clear that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan does not alter its earlier measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Earlier, India announced a series of strong retaliatory steps against Pakistan, including the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. The decision was taken following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives – mostly tourists.
Other measures by India included shutting down the integrated check post at the Attari border and reducing the staff strength at the Pakistani High Commission in India.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation for the first time since Operation Sindoor and underscored the move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. He said, “water and blood can never flow together.”
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