The decision to put the Indus water agreement on hold was announced on Wednesday.
India doubled down on its decision to indefinitely suspend the Indus water treaty on Thursday evening, formally notifying Pakistan that it comes into effect immediately and explaining why -- sustained terror amid other reasons.
The letter came shortly after Islamabad -- scrambling to retaliate against New Delhi's diplomatic offensive after the Pahalgam massacre -- threatened to suspend all agreements between the two countries, including the Simla pact of 1972, which validates the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Pakistan also announced that it will reduce Indian diplomatic staff at the High Commission, shut its airspace to Indian flights, closed down its side of the Wagah border post and and asked Indian Defence, Naval and Air Advisers in Islamabad. Read: Pahalgam Terror Attack Live Updates
The Letter To Islamabad
Sent late this evening, the letter from the Union Ministry of Water Resources to Syed Ali Murtuza, Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources of Pakistan said, "The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to a treaty. However, what we have seen instead is sustained cross border terrorism by Pakistan targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir".
But along with it, it also mentioned that Pakistan has consistently ignored India's efforts to work out certain issues that have cropped up with "fundamental changes in the circumstances that have taken place since the Treaty was executed".
"These changes include significantly altered population demographics, the need to accelerate the development of clean energy and other changes in the assumptions underlying the sharing of waters under the Treaty," the letter read.
India said in addition, consistent cross-border terrorism has given rise to "uncertainties' that have "directly impeded India's full utilization of its rights under the Treaty".
"Furthermore, apart from other breaches committed by it, Pakistan has refused to respond to India's request to enter into negotiations as envisaged under the Treaty and is thus in breach of the Treaty," the letter read.
On Friday, an important meeting will be held on the Water Treaty at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is expected to be attended by senior ministers, including Jal Shakti minister CR Patil.
CCS Broke New Grounds
The decision to put the Indus water agreement -- brokered by the World Bank in 1960 -- on hold was announced yesterday after meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was a first -- the treaty had endured multiple face-offs with Pakistan and a war.
For Pakistan its effect can be devastating. The Indus is the lifeline for vast swathes of Pakistan in terms of agriculture, power plants and economic activity. It is also a source of drinking water for a country already struggling with depleted groundwater.
After a meeting this morning, Islamabad said, "Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of war".
The Massacre That Started It
The terror attack on Sunday was the worst in years, specifically targeting tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam. Twenty-six people had died as terrorists from a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot emerged from pine forests around the scenic meadows of Baisaran, often dubbed "mini Switzerland" and opened fire on a group of unsuspecting tourists.
The government has vowed retaliation and followed it up with several non-military moves that include indefinite suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, shutting the Attari border and revoking visas of all Pakistan nationals currently in India. Then, in an escalation, the government cancelled all visas, including medical visas, of Pakistan nationals in India.
While there was no discussion on military action at Thursday's all-party meeting, many have refused to rule it out. Surgical strikes and air strikes were conducted on terror camps across the Line of Control after the terror attacks on Uri and Pulwama.
Earlier on Thursday, speaking at Bihar's Madhubani, PM Modi declared that India will "identify, track, and punish" every terrorist and their "backers" involved in the Pahalgam carnage and pursue the killers to the "ends of the earth".
Terrorism will not go "unpunished" and that every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism, PM Modi said.
