New Delhi [India], April 28 (ANI): Welcoming the Centre's move to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday hailed the decision as a bold step under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami emphasised that today's India knows how to maintain both friendship and enmity.

'This is a very good decision under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Blood and water can't flow together. Today's India knows how to maintain both friendship and enmity,' he said.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, following nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan, with the assistance of the World Bank, which is also a signatory. Former World Bank President Eugene Black initiated the talks.

Recognised as one of the most successful international treaties, it has endured frequent tensions, including conflict, and has provided a framework for irrigation and hydropower development for over half a century. Former US President Dwight Eisenhower described it as 'one bright spot ... in a very depressing world picture that we see so often.'

The Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. At the same time, the Treaty allows each country certain uses of the rivers allocated to the other. The treaty gives India 20% of the water from the Indus River System and the rest 80% to Pakistan.

The attack in Pahalgam is one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has taken strong measures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism, including the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) took the following measures, which included five key decisions.

'The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi are declared Persona Non Grata. They have a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions,' Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said. He also mentioned that the Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed with immediate effect. (ANI)