India has firmly declared that it will never restore the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, announcing plans to divert the water for domestic use instead. Federal Home Minister Amit Shah made the statement in an interview with The Times of India, stating that water previously flowing to Pakistan would be redirected to the Indian state of Rajasthan through a new canal. “Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably,” Shah asserted.
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs the use of water from the Indus River system. Under the agreement, India received rights over the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan retained access to the western rivers—Jhelum, Chenab, and the Indus itself—vital for irrigating over 80% of its farmland. However, following a deadly terror attack in April in Indian-administered Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives and was blamed on Pakistan, India suspended its participation in the treaty. Pakistan has denied involvement, but the incident triggered days of intense military clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Despite a ceasefire agreement reached last month, tensions remain high. Shah emphasized that India has no intention of resuming the treaty, describing the original terms as unfair. The move marks a significant escalation in India’s strategic posture, signaling a shift in water diplomacy amid deteriorating bilateral relations. The decision could have serious implications for regional stability and cross-border water management going forward.
