In a bold move, the Indian government has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, a decision that follows the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack in which several Indian security personnel and civilians were killed.
The attack, which occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, was reportedly carried out by terrorists operating from Pakistan, prompting India to launch a series of strong retaliatory actions.
According to official sources, one of the key steps India has now taken is to stop the flow of water from the Indus River into Pakistan. This suspension effectively nullifies the obligations under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank to manage water sharing between the two nations.
A formal notification to this effect was issued on Thursday, a day after New Delhi publicly announced its decision. The notification categorically states that the Indus Water Treaty is suspended, or “held in abeyance,” thereby freezing all associated treaty mechanisms.
This includes halting the regular meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission, the exchange of hydrological data, and mandatory advance notice to Pakistan about any new infrastructure projects on the rivers.
Officials also confirmed that India will now expedite the construction of dams and water storage infrastructure along the Indus basin. The move is aimed at enhancing India’s capacity to utilise the water resources allocated to it under the treaty, without any obligation to inform or consult Pakistan.
In a letter addressed to Pakistani authorities, India’s Water Resources Secretary Debashree Mukherjee underscored the justification behind this suspension.
She stated, “The obligation to honour a treaty in good faith is fundamental to international relations. However, what we have witnessed is sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, especially targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This impedes India’s rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and necessitates a re-evaluation of our commitments.”
Reacting sharply to the development, Pakistan rejected India’s decision to unilaterally suspend the Indus Water Treaty, terming it a violation of international law. Pakistani officials went so far as to warn that any move to disrupt the water flow that Pakistan depends on will be viewed as an “act of war.”
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in September 1960 after nine years of negotiations, had thus far survived multiple wars and diplomatic standoffs between the two nations.
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It divided the six rivers of the Indus basin, allocating the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — to India, while Pakistan received the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. With an average annual water flow of about 135 million acre-feet (MAF), the lion’s share of this volume had been directed to Pakistan.
Experts warn that India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty could have a devastating impact on Pakistan’s water security and agricultural economy. Reduced river flows, especially during critical crop cultivation periods, and the suspension of data sharing could severely hinder Pakistan’s ability to plan irrigation and manage drought risks.
The Pahalgam attack, which India has directly linked to terrorist elements backed by Pakistan, served as the immediate trigger for this sweeping diplomatic and infrastructural response.
As part of a broader crackdown, India has also revoked visas for Pakistani nationals, expelled several Pakistani military officials, ordered the immediate closure of the Attari land transit point and the Obroi post, and initiated a downsising of diplomatic missions in both countries.
With the Indus Water Treaty suspended, a new phase of heightened tensions looms over South Asia, as the region grapples with the geopolitical and humanitarian consequences of terrorism and water politics.
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