Reuters: India seeks to reduce water inflow to Pakistan.
India is considering plans to significantly increase water withdrawals from one of Pakistan’s main rivers, Reuters reported. The move is part of India’s retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in April that New Delhi blames on Islamabad.
India suspended its participation in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty immediately after 26 civilians were killed in Kashmir.
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the incident, but despite a ceasefire agreement between the two countries, the treaty has not yet been restored.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered government officials to speed up projects on the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers after the attack.
India is allowed to withdraw a limited amount of water from the Chenab for irrigation under the treaty.
Modi had earlier said in an angry speech that “water and blood cannot flow together,” but did not directly refer to the treaty.
India’s foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday that his country would keep the Indus Waters Treaty in suspension until Pakistan stops supporting terrorism.
Pakistan warned that any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water that belongs to Pakistan would be considered an “act of war” after India suspended the treaty.