Blood and water can't flow together: PM Modi chairs meeting on Indus Water Treaty

New Delhi: "Blood and water can't flow at the same time," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday during a meeting to review the Indus Water treaty with Pakistan amidst heightened tension between the two countries.

National security advisor Ajit Doval, foreign secretary S Jaishankar, the water resources secretary, and senior PMO officials were present at the meeting.

The review is being undertaken as India weighs options to give a befitting response to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.

There have been consistent calls in India that the government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack.

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

According to the agreement, India has control over three eastern rivers - Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej - all flowing from Punjab.

Pakistan, as per the treaty, controls the western rivers - the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum that flow from Jammu and Kashmir.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said last week that there were differences between India and Pakistan on implementing the Indus Waters Treaty.

Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh had also said last week that his state will fully support whatever decision is 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.

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

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