During a detailed discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday reflected on the historical and strategic significance of the Indus Water Treaty, calling it one of the most extraordinary international agreements ever made.

Dr. Jaishankar said, “The Indus Water Treaty in many ways is a very unique agreement. I cannot think of any agreement in the world where a country has allowed its major rivers to flow to the next country without having rights on that river. It was an extraordinary gesture on our part.”

The External Affairs Minister emphasized that the decision to place the treaty in abeyance must be seen in the context of its history. “It is important, when we have put the treaty in abeyance, to recall the history of this event,” he said, responding to concerns raised by opposition MPs during the debate.

In a pointed remark, Dr. Jaishankar criticized what he called a selective approach to historical memory. “Yesterday, I heard people—some of them seem uncomfortable with history. They prefer that historical things be forgotten. Maybe it does not suit them; they only like to recall some things,” he said, hinting at the opposition's reluctance to acknowledge key historical facts related to the treaty and India-Pakistan relations.

The statement came amid an intense parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor, a recent high-level military and intelligence operation targeting cross-border terrorism. While the operation itself has received broad support in Parliament, discussions have also opened up deeper geopolitical questions, including the status of longstanding treaties like the Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960.