India unilaterally suspends Indus Waters Treaty, closes Wagah border amid rising tensions

New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, the Modi-led Indian government has announced the immediate suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan — a move that signals a significant deterioration in bilateral relations.

In a press conference following a high-level cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs declared several aggressive measures, including immediate closure of the Attari-Wagah border. Moreover, Pakistani nationals in India are directed to leave the country within 48 hours. The Modi government also canceled Pakistani citizens’ visas. The Indian government declared Pakistan’s naval and air attachés as persona non grata and recalled its own defense attaché from Islamabad.

Additionally, the Indian government has decided to reduce the staff of the Pakistani High Commission, instructing that all Pakistani diplomatic staff must return within seven days.

This abrupt diplomatic fallout follows a series of heightened tensions in the region, with experts warning that such steps could have far-reaching consequences for regional peace and cooperation, especially over critical water resources governed by the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960.