New Delhi (National Times): In a notable geopolitical development, Pakistan has reached out multiple times to India in recent weeks, expressing willingness to resume talks on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). However, India has refused to engage, maintaining that the treaty will stay in abeyance following the brutal Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, lost their lives to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
According to reports from The Indian Express, Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza initially responded to India’s suspension notice in May, offering to “discuss specific provisions of the treaty” that India finds objectionable. Since then, at least two more letters have been dispatched to India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti by Islamabad, signalling Pakistan’s desire for a renewed dialogue.
However, top Indian government sources have confirmed that New Delhi is not currently interested in any such talks, particularly in light of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April attack. The Pakistani letters have been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, but no diplomatic engagement has been initiated from the Indian side.
India had earlier issued two formal notices, in January 2023 and again in September 2024, seeking a review and modification of the 1960 Treaty. At that time, Pakistan had shown little inclination to cooperate. Its sudden interest in dialogue now is being viewed as a tactical shift, possibly influenced by India’s firm and uncompromising posture post-Pahalgam.
