India Pushes Ahead With Indus Water Diversion Plans Amid Pakistan’s Renewed Calls For Treaty Dialogue

Pakistan has once again reached out to India, offering to resume dialogue over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which New Delhi suspended following the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, Indian Express reported.

Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza had earlier in May responded to India’s suspension notice with a letter offering to ‘discuss the specific provisions of the treaty that India objects to.’ 

Pakistan has since sent at least two more letters to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, renewing its offer for dialogue, including after India’s military strikes under Operation Sindoor, Indian Express reported citing sources.

However, India is currently not interested in talks and the treaty will remain in abeyance, the IE reported citing top government sources.

The letters have been referred to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The development gains significance because, despite India issuing two notices in January 2023 and September 2024 seeking a 'review and modification' of the IWT, Pakistan had not shown any explicit intent to engage until now.

Its recent overtures are seen as a shift in stance, prompted by India’s firm decision to suspend the treaty after the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were brutally killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

Meanwhile, the government is moving ahead with plans to divert water from the Indus system for domestic use.

India has also started desilting hydroelectric reservoirs on the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers to increase their storage capacities.

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