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“Water is life — and when shared across borders, it becomes diplomacy.”
Introduction
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan under the World Bank's mediation, is a water-distribution agreement governing the use of the Indus River system. It allocated:
The recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty represents a necessary response to Pakistan's continued support for cross-border terrorism and India's legitimate need to protect its water sovereignty. After decades of maintaining the treaty despite provocations, India has finally taken decisive action following the deadly Pahalgam attack, signaling a new chapter in regional water diplomacy that prioritizes national security and domestic needs.
The Indus Waters Treaty, negotiated under World Bank mediation and signed in 1960, granted Pakistan disproportionate control over the water resources of the Indus River system. This arrangement allocated a mere 30% of the total water to India while Pakistan received 70%. Specifically, India received rights to the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej), while Pakistan gained control over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab). Despite these rivers originating in and flowing through Indian territory, India agreed to these terms in the spirit of regional cooperation.
Pakistan's dependence on these waters cannot be overstated. The Indus Basin rivers support approximately 25% of Pakistan's GDP and play an existential role in maintaining the country's food security. Nearly 70% of Pakistan's economy relies on the Indus basin. This dependence has given Pakistan a vested interest in maintaining the status quo of the treaty, even while engaging in activities that undermine the cooperative spirit upon which the agreement was founded.
Meanwhile, India has been unable to fully utilize even its limited allocation of water resources. Indian experts have consistently noted that inadequate infrastructure has prevented India from fully exploiting even its allotted 20% share of the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus waters. Most reports indicate that India currently utilizes only about 10% of the total water permitted under the treaty. This underutilization has persisted despite India's growing water needs for irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower development.
For decades, India has honored its commitments under the treaty despite faced with repeated provocations from Pakistan. The Indian Embassy in Washington articulated this clearly: "The Indus Water Treaty was concluded by India with Pakistan in a spirit of goodwill and friendship in 1960. Pakistan through its well-documented, state-sponsored terrorism directed against India has corroded this spirit".
The Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025, which claimed 26 innocent lives including foreign nationals, served as the final breaking point. When investigations revealed cross-border links to the attack, India's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) made the decision to suspend the treaty with immediate effect. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced this decision, emphasizing that water cooperation cannot continue while Pakistan enables terrorism against Indian citizens.
As the Secretary of Water Resources, Debashree Mukherjee, unequivocally stated, Pakistan's actions against Jammu and Kashmir violate the treaty's fundamental obligation of good faith. After enduring numerous provocations, India can no longer be expected to uphold beneficial water arrangements with a nation that repeatedly targets Indian civilians.
India has long advocated for a review and amendments to the treaty, citing evolving requirements for irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower, especially considering climate change impacts. These legitimate concerns have been met with obstruction from Pakistan, which has refused to negotiate necessary treaty modifications - a breach under Article XII(3).
The current infrastructure India possesses primarily consists of run-of-the-river hydropower plants, which do not require substantial storage capacity. Projects like the Ratle Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, with its planned 850 MW capacity, represent India's attempts to utilize its permitted share of the western rivers through non-consumptive uses. However, Pakistan has frequently objected to such developments, despite the World Bank allowing India to construct these projects.
With the suspension of the treaty, India now has greater flexibility to modify current infrastructure or develop new systems to retain or redirect more water without the previous notification requirements. As water expert Himanshu Thakkar noted, "Unlike in the past, India will no longer be obligated to provide its project documents to Pakistan".
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty represents a significant shift in India's strategic approach to water management and regional security. By suspending the treaty, India has signaled that continued cross-border terrorism will have serious consequences, including in areas previously separated from security considerations.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's announcement that water supply from the Indus river and its tributaries would be stopped marks a severe economic blow to Pakistan. Given Pakistan's heavy dependence on these waters for agriculture and economic stability, this decision demonstrates India's willingness to use all tools at its disposal to counter terrorism.
However, experts caution that India's ability to completely cut off water is constrained by physical realities. The country currently lacks the necessary large-scale storage facilities and extensive canal systems required for significant diversion of the western rivers, particularly during peak flow periods. This infrastructure limitation remains a challenge that India must address to fully exercise its water rights.
India's message is clear: cooperative arrangements cannot persist while one party continuously undermines the fundamental principle of good faith. As the Indian Embassy in Washington stated, "India cannot be expected to continue to cooperate with a country which is responsible for killing innocent civilians".
For Pakistan, the path to reinstating the treaty is equally clear - it must take decisive action against terrorist groups operating from its soil and cease all cross-border terrorism targeting India. Until such time, India is justified in developing its water infrastructure to better utilize its rightful share of the Indus basin waters.
Projects like the Ratle Hydroelectric Project, with its 133-meter tall gravity dam and dual power stations generating 850 MW of electricity, represent the type of development India can now pursue with greater freedom. These projects will help India address its growing energy needs while leveraging its geographical advantage as the upstream nation.
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty comes after decades of Indian patience in the face of provocation. While the treaty survived previous conflicts, including two wars in 1965 and 1971, Pakistan's persistent support for cross-border terrorism has ultimately undermined the cooperative foundation upon which the agreement was built.
India's decision represents both a security measure and an assertion of water sovereignty. As climate change and growing population pressures increase water stress across the region, India has a responsibility to secure adequate water resources for its citizens. The suspension of the treaty allows India to develop previously constrained water infrastructure and utilize its legitimate share of the Indus basin waters.
Moving forward, the onus is on Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to peaceful relations by eliminating cross-border terrorism. Only then can a more equitable water-sharing arrangement be negotiated - one that respects India's security concerns and growing water needs while maintaining regional stability.
Sachin Jangir