Mutual trust must for treaties like on Indus water to work: Govt

The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty today cropped up in the current hostile Indo-Pak discourse with India making it clear that "mutual trust and cooperation" was important for such a treaty to work.

The assertion came 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 earlier this week.

"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 said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries.

He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on "goodwill".
Pressed further if India will scrap the Treaty, he refused to elaborate and only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he has not said that the treaty was not working.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President 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.

Swarup also noted that there were differences over the implementation of the treaty between the two countries.