Govt calls meet on Indus Water Treaty; Water Resources Ministry, MEA to brief PM Modi

On September 22, India had made it clear that `mutual trust and cooperation` was important for Indus Water Treaty to work.

Delhi: In what could be a significant development, the government has called a meeting on Monday to discuss the Indus Water Treaty.

As per media reports, officials from Water Resources Ministry and MEA will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different aspects of the treaty.

Earlier on September 22, India had made it clear that 'mutual trust and cooperation' was important for such a treaty to work.

The assertion had come amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of audacious Uri terror attack.

"For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the treaty given the growing strain between the two countries.

He had also noted that the preamble of the treaty itself said that it was based on 'goodwill' and had said that there were differences over its implementation between the two countries.

Pressed further if India will scrap the treaty, he had refused to elaborate and had only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he had not said that the treaty was not working.

Meanwhile, on September 24,  Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had said the state would fully support whatever decision was taken by the Union government on the 1960 agreement.

"The treaty has caused huge loss to Jammu and Kashmir" as the people of the state cannot fully utilise the waters of various rivers, particularly Chenab in Jammu, for agricultural and other activities," Singh had said, as per PTI.

"The state government will support whatever decision is taken by the central government on Indus Waters Treaty," he had added.

Under the 56-year-old treaty, which was signed by Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases.

(With PTI inputs)