'Pak must stop backing terror': India on why Indus Waters Treaty still 'in abeyance'

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Friday reiterated that India's position on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) "remains in abeyance" due to Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism. The ministry also said that India has already conveyed its views to Bangladesh on the proposed Teesta River project.Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India's stand on the Indus Waters Treaty has remained "consistent". "India's position on the Indus Water Treaty is consistent. The IWT stands in abeyance in response to Pakistan's continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism," Jaiswal said. "Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism," he added.The remarks come amid a fresh war of words between India and Pakistan over the suspension of the water-sharing agreement following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 civilians were killed.Earlier this week, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a fresh warning to India, accusing New Delhi of using water as a strategic weapon."Pakistan must speak clearly. The Indus is not a pressure point. The Indus is not a bargaining chip. The Indus is not a weapon to be placed in India's hands. The Indus is a lifeline of Pakistan. And any attempt to turn that lifeline into a noose must be treated as a threat to the survival of our state. This is the message that Pakistan must deliver to India," Bilawal said, according to ANI.Moreover, the neighbouring nation's information minister Attaullah Tarar, without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly said, "There is a tap being controlled by the prime minister of a neighbouring country. He says he will not let even a drop of water flow into Pakistan," as reported by Dawn. He further argued that the treaty could not be unilaterally revoked by one country.India had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack, citing Pakistan's continued support for cross-border terrorism. Earlier last year, PM Modi had stated that "blood and water cannot flow together" and asserted that the treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible and verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from its territory.The suspension comes as Pakistan faces an escalating water crisis, with severe shortages affecting key agricultural regions, particularly in Sindh and parts of Balochistan.India on Teesta projectResponding to questions on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, Jaiswal said India's development cooperation with Bangladesh is based on mutual understanding and regular consultations. "India's development assistance for projects in Bangladesh is based on a mutually agreed roadmap that is regularly reviewed," he said."Our views on the Teesta River project have already been conveyed to the Bangladeshi side. We will factor in all related developments in our overall approach to the Teesta issue," Jaiswal added.The comments come days after Bangladesh and China agreed to cooperate on the management of the Teesta and other transboundary rivers flowing from India.During a visit to China last week, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman said the Teesta Barrage Master Plan is a "national priority" and it would be implemented "at any cost". Chinese officials, however, maintained that their cooperation with Bangladesh was not aimed at any third country. Tarique also said Bangladesh was committed to addressing long-standing water management challenges. "The government is committed to resolving the country's longstanding water management challenges through major investments in rivers, canals and irrigation infrastructure," he said.He said that water scarcity remained a major concern in Bangladesh's Rajshahi and Rangpur regions, which border India's northeast. "We are working relentlessly to address these problems," Tarique added.The Teesta water dispute between India and Bangladesh centres on the sharing of water from the Teesta River, with Dhaka seeking a larger share of the river's flow than it currently receives.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.