No change in India's stance on Indus Waters Treaty and Kartarpur Corridor as ceasefire takes effect

PM Modi chairs high-security meeting at his residence (file photo)

India’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty and the Kartarpur Corridor remains unchanged, even as the government confirmed its agreement to a ceasefire with Pakistan following what officials described as “decisive and final” military strikes on Pakistani airbases.

According to a report by News18, senior government officials stated that India’s decision to agree to a ceasefire was taken only after ensuring that its military objectives had been fully achieved. The sources emphasised that the strikes on Pakistani airbases were “decisive”, signalling a strong message regarding India’s commitment to safeguarding its security interests.

This breakthrough was set in motion after a crucial phone call at 3:35 pm on Saturday from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart, News18 reported. During the conversation, Pakistan explicitly conveyed that it would refrain from any further strikes and formally requested a ceasefire. Indian officials underscored that, up to this point, the US had played no mediatory role, with the agreement emerging directly from bilateral military-level discussions between the two countries.

Despite the escalation, India has not altered its approach towards the Indus Waters Treaty, a historic agreement governing the sharing of river waters between India and Pakistan. Similarly, the Kartarpur Corridor, which facilitates visa-free pilgrimage for Indian Sikhs to the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, will continue to operate as before.

Meanwhile, the US claimed to play a visible role in brokering the ceasefire, with President Donald Trump announcing on his Truth Social platform that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” cessation of hostilities. “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump posted, taking credit for the diplomatic breakthrough.

The ceasefire announcement came after a dramatic escalation, with both sides engaging in missile and drone strikes following a terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead last month. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad has denied, leading to the most serious confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbours in decades.

The government has reportedly called for a review of these agreements in response to the recent flare-up. However, officials reiterated that while India remains vigilant and resolute in defending its sovereignty, it is equally committed to honouring international agreements and facilitating people-to-people ties where appropriate.