India, Pakistan exchange barbs over terrorism, J&K at SCO meet

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s recent visit to India to attend an SCO conference has sparked renewed interest in the state of bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.

Points hit out by India

• India hit out at Pakistan for exporting terror to India.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar accused the Pakistani Foreign Minister of being a “promoter, justifier and a spokesperson of a terror industry”.

What made New Delhi toughen its stand?

• The killing of five Indian Army soldiers by the terrorists in J&K. The incident took place just about a fortnight after India had lost five Rashtriya Rifles soldiers in another attack in the union territory by terrorists from Pakistan.
• The back-to-back incidents cast a shadow over what was the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to India since December 2016.

What are the current issues between India and Pakistan?

• Background: India and Pakistan have mostly been at odds since 1947, when both emerged as independent countries after decades of British rule. The two states fought a war in that year—and three more in the years since, in 1965, 1971, and 1999.
• Issues in present times
  • Cross-border terrorism: India has accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups that operate in Indian-administered Kashmir.
  • Disputed territory of Kashmir
  • Treatment of minorities in Pakistan
  • Indus Waters Treaty(IWT): India wants to modify the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The treaty was signed between the two countries in 1960, with the World Bank as guarantor, to regulate use of their shared rivers. The demand from India is for Pakistan “to enter into inter-governmental negotiations within 90 days to rectify the material breach of IWT. This process would also update IWT to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 62 years.