Indo-Pak: India Places IWT in Abeyance, Closes Wagah-Attari Border

On 23 Apr, without presenting evidence but blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, 'Recognizing the seriousness of this terrorist attack,' the Cabinet Committee on Security decided upon the following measures: the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect; Integrated Check Post Attari-Wagah border will be closed with immediate effect; Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India; defense officials and advisers in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata; India will be withdrawing its own defense advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad; and the overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55, to be effected by 1 May. However, Pakistan extended condolences while simultaneously distancing itself from the attack. Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif said, 'Pakistan has no connection with this. These are local uprisings, from Nagaland to Kashmir, Chhattisgarh to Manipur. It’s not foreign interference.' IWT has been one of the most durable transboundary water agreements in the world. It divided the six rivers of the Indus Basin between the two countries. India received the three eastern rivers (the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, the later two of which flow through Panjab) and releases about 6% of their water to Pakistan. Pakistan received the three western rivers (the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) which account for the majority (almost 80%) of the shared basin’s water. India retains the right to use the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower, and for limited irrigation, but is not allowed to store or divert their flows in ways that harm downstream access. India has now placed IWT in abeyance and indicated a phased approach—including building dams and storing water—but that will take years to stabilize. India has also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels. As Wagah border has closed, Sikh pilgrims have been allowed to use the Kartarpur Sahib corridor (earlier coverage).