India Pauses Indus Treaty Amid Terror Fallout, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Hails Bold Move

Guwahati:In the aftermath of the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, India has taken a bold step by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan — a decision that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed as a firm and strategic assertion of national sovereignty.Taking to social media on April 24, Sarma praised the move, calling it a significant turning point in India’s policy towards cross-border terrorism. "A beginning has been made. Bharat will take it to its logical conclusion. Pakistan must understand that this is the New India," he wrote, emphasizing that the suspension of the treaty is not just symbolic, but a "calibrated, lawful, and strategic measure."The decision, officially announced on April 23, follows the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, which claimed 26 lives and injured over 20 others. Among the deceased were tourists from various Indian states, foreign nationals from Nepal and the UAE, as well as local residents. The gruesome attack has sent shockwaves across the country and drawn international attention.Security investigations have pointed to Lashkar-e-Taiba’s involvement, with Saifullah Khalid — the group’s deputy chief — identified as the mastermind orchestrating the attack from Pakistani territory. The revelation has further strained already tense Indo-Pak relations.In response, high-level security consultations have been held in both Srinagar and New Delhi. The suspension of the treaty, originally signed in 1960 to manage water sharing between the two countries, is being viewed as a powerful diplomatic tool. It aligns with a broader strategy to integrate national security with water diplomacy, a sentiment echoed by Sarma, who declared this as "a new era of assertive diplomacy."With the treaty’s future now uncertain, India’s firm stance is being seen as both a warning and a policy shift — underscoring that acts of terror will have tangible geopolitical consequences.