IWT: govt to serve notice on Delhi

ISLAMABAD:

With tempers flaring in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has decided to serve a formal diplomatic notice to New Delhi over its unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) — a move Islamabad has slammed as a breach of international commitments.

According to official sources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Law have completed preliminary consultations and legal groundwork following internal deliberations.

The diplomatic notice will formally seek the rationale behind India's decision to suspend the landmark 1960 agreement.

The notice, officials said, will question the legality and legitimacy of India's move and demand solid justifications.

Simultaneously, Pakistan is also considering raising the issue at various international forums to record a strong protest and expose what officials describe as India's "water aggression".

Sources added that the objective of these actions is to reinforce Pakistan's legal and moral position. "Pakistan holds legal precedence over the Indus Waters Treaty and hopes India will be compelled to reconsider its decision," a senior official said. All steps, it was added, will be taken following approval by the federal cabinet.