21 June, 2025:
In a firm and unyielding stance, the Central government has once again ruled out any possibility of restoring the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, citing repeated and deliberate violations by the neighbouring country. India had suspended the treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
In an interview, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a clear message, said that the Narendra Modi government had placed the 1960 agreement in abeyance in response to Pakistan's continuous violation of peace and progress, the very foundational spirit of the treaty. "International treaties can't be annulled unilaterally but we had the right to put it in abeyance, which we have done," he said.
Amit Shah said, “No, it will never be restored. International treaties can’t be annulled unilaterally, but we had the right to put them in abeyance, which we have done. The treaty preamble mentions that it was for the peace and progress of the two countries but once that has been violated, there is nothing left to protect.”
Shah stated that the water flowing to Pakistan "unjustifiably" would now be redirected to Indian states like Rajasthan. Speaking in an interview with the Times of India, Shah said, "Paani Rajasthan tak jayega," adding that India would construct a canal to utilise its rightful share. "We will use water that rightfully belongs to India. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably," the Home Minister said.
"Any future terrorist attack will be treated as an act of war," Home Minister Amit Shah declared unequivocally, reinforcing the Modi government's zero-tolerance policy. “The Prime Minister has said it repeatedly — there should be no confusion,” he warned, making it clear that India will retaliate with full force against any fresh provocation from Islamabad.
Commenting on the April terror attack in Pahalgam, Shah described it as a “deliberate attempt to sabotage peace in Kashmir, disrupt rising tourism, and distract Kashmiri youth.” He noted that Kashmir had never shown such a strong sense of solidarity with the rest of India and vowed swift retaliation against any future acts of aggression. “Whatever Pakistan chooses to do, we will respond without delay,” he asserted, claiming that after Pakistan targeted civilian areas, India retaliated by damaging Pakistani airbases — an action he said compelled Pakistan to seek a suspension in hostilities.
