New Delhi/IBNS: Justifying the government's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of Pahalgam massacre, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil Friday said the same has been taken in national interest and India will ensure that not even a "drop of water" from the Indus River goes to Pakistan.

"The historic decision taken by the Modi government on the Indus Water Treaty is completely justified and in the national interest. We will ensure that not even a drop of water from the Indus River goes to Pakistan," Paatil wrote in Hindi on X.

His post came after the minister held a crucial meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue.

India on Thursday formally informed Pakistan about its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, which comes into effect immediately in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

The Indian Government on Wednesday evening suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan indefinitely as a part of some strict measures taken against Islamabad over the "cross-border linkages" that emerged during the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack.

Some other stringent measures taken by the Indian government included the downgrading of diplomatic ties, expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, and the closure of the Attari land-transit point.

Significance of the Indus Water Treaty

For over six decades, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has been crucial in facilitating peaceful water sharing between India and Pakistan, even during times of heightened political and military tensions.

As part of the Indus Water Treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank, India has full right over the three eastern rivers in the Indus system - Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.

Meanwhile, Pakistan gets access to around 135 million acre feet (MAF) of water from the three Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab - all of which flow downstream to the country from India.

The Permanent Indus Commission, the body responsible for resolving disputes, continued its functions even during the wars of 1965 and 1971, demonstrating the resilience of the treaty framework.

Despite facing multiple terror attacks, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack, India had not withdrawn from the treaty until the Pahalgam attack.

However, the Pahalgam terror attack prompted the Indian government to take the stern step.

Among the options that are on the table in the short term, the Centre is looking at de-silting existing dams on the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and increasing reservoir capacity, all of which will reduce the water flowing into Pakistan, said reports.

Pahalgam Massacre

Twenty-six tourists died after terrorists identified them as non-Muslims and gunned them down in Baisaran meadows, a popular destination in Pahalgam.

World leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the attack.

The terrorists, who were apparently in camouflage, reportedly asked the victims to chant Islamic verse, pull down their pants to check circumcision in a bid to confirm their Hindu identities before gunning them down. One Nepali national was among those killed.