India rejects Pakistan's ASEAN remarks, reiterates stand on Indus Waters Treaty
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Security
Why in news
India strongly rejected Pakistan's remarks at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, reiterating that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in abeyance until Pakistan ends cross-border terrorism. The MEA dismissed Pakistan's allegations of deliberate flooding as baseless.
Background
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank. In 2023, India issued a notice to Pakistan seeking modification of the treaty, citing Pakistan's non-compliance and support for cross-border terrorism. India has since kept the treaty in abeyance.
Key facts
India rejected Pakistan's remarks at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila on July 24, 2026.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in abeyance until Pakistan 'irrevocably and credibly' ends support for cross-border terrorism.
India called Pakistan's allegations of deliberate flooding 'baseless' and attributed the Chenab river's water level rise to heavy monsoon rainfall.
Pakistan's Deputy PM Ishaq Dar raised the Jammu and Kashmir issue and criticized India's decision on the IWT.
India asserted that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh 'have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India' and that Pakistan has no locus standi.
India accused Pakistan of using the multilateral platform to spread 'state-sponsored disinformation' and divert attention from its record of sponsoring cross-border terrorism.
Prelims pointers
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): 27-member forum for security dialogue in Asia-Pacific.
- Indus Waters Treaty (IWT): Signed in 1960, brokered by World Bank.
- Chenab River: Part of the Indus system, rises in Himachal Pradesh.
- Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Union Territory, Pakistan claims it illegally.
- Ladakh: Indian Union Territory, created in 2019.
Mains angles
- Discuss the implications of India keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance on India-Pakistan relations.
- Critically examine the role of multilateral forums like ASEAN in addressing bilateral disputes.
- Analyze the linkage between cross-border terrorism and water-sharing treaties in the context of India-Pakistan relations.