India on Thursday indicated that scrapping the decades-old Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan was not off the table. Spokesperson for the External Affairs Minister Vikas Swarup said, "For any such treaty to work, it's important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair." He also said that there had been differences with Pakistan over the implementation of the water-sharing pact, PTI reported.

The statement comes amid worsening ties between the two countries, in the backdrop of the terror attack on the Indian Army's Uri base, the deepening dispute over Kashmir and Pakistan's repeated attacks on India at the United Nations. Pakistan has reportedly been complaining of not receiving enough water and has even appealed for global intervention in a number of cases. Cutting off water supply from the Indus will cause a serious crisis in Pakistan as most of its regions are dependent on the river's water.

According to the treaty signed in September 1960, India has control over the three eastern rivers – Beas, Ravi and Sutlej – whereas Pakistan has control of the three western rivers – Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The agreement, brokered by the World Bank, was signed by former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Pakistani president at the time, Ayub Khan.