S Jaishankar: Bilateral Talks Only On Vacating Kashmir, Indus Water Treaty to Stay in Abeyance Until Cross Border Terrorism Ends

In a strong message to Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on Tuesday stated that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain suspended until Islamabad credibly and irreversibly ends cross-border terrorism. Reiterating India’s firm stance, he also ruled out any discussions on Kashmir—except for vacating Pakistan-occupied territories.

Bilateral Talks Only On Vacating Kashmir

#WATCH | Delhi | "...The Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until the cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped... The only thing which remains to be discussed on Kashmir is the vacating of illegally… pic.twitter.com/rY1SxHI7Td

— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2025

“The Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until the cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped,” said Jaishankar.

He further asserted that the only dialogue India is open to with Pakistan concerns the return of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“The only thing which remains to be discussed on Kashmir is the vacating of illegally occupied Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir; we are open to that discussion,” he emphasized.

The comments underscore India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism

The comments underscore India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and a continued strategic shift in regional diplomacy, where terror-free engagement remains a non-negotiable precondition.

This statement comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions and India’s intensified efforts to isolate Pakistan on the issue of state-sponsored terrorism. 

This declaration reflects India's continued strategic posture of linking peace and cooperation with accountability on terrorism. Over the past few years, India has steadily hardened its diplomatic position, especially following high-profile terror incidents like Uri (2016) and Pulwama (2019), both of which were traced back to Pakistan-based terror outfits.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, had withstood multiple India-Pakistan conflicts. However, India has increasingly voiced concerns that peaceful cooperation on water cannot coexist with terror infrastructure operating from across the border.