A lot is currently going on between India and Pakistan, and it clearly looks like the relationship, already bitter, is getting worse, heading in an ugly direction. The trigger was the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed several civilians. The Indian government linked the attack to Pakistan-based militant groups and demanded that Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably" end its support for cross-border terrorism. In response, the Indian government took several strict actions, one of which was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. This move has gained significant attention and is seen as one of the main reasons behind Pakistan's retaliatory actions against India. But do you really know what the Indus Waters Treaty is?
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, is certainly a landmark water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan. It allocates the waters of six rivers in the Indus basin. India has exclusive rights over the eastern rivers, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, while Pakistan receives the bulk of the water from the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – even though these rivers originate in India. The treaty has long been considered a rare example of sustained cooperation between the two countries, surviving multiple wars and periods of high tension.
Water security threat: Pakistan is heavily reliant on the Indus river system. Most of its cultivated land depends on these rivers for irrigation, and a vast majority of the water is used for agriculture. Any disruption in water flow could threaten food security, lower crop yields, and cause widespread shortages.
Urban and power supply risks: Major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Multan depend on Indus waters for drinking and municipal use. Interruptions could lead to water scarcity in urban centres, potentially causing unrest. The rivers are also crucial for hydropower generation, so reduced flows could affect electricity supply.
And not forget, by suspending the treaty, India, as the upper riparian state, gains leverage to control or reduce water flows to Pakistan, putting pressure on Islamabad to change its stance on cross-border terrorism.
Pakistan said India cannot withdraw unilaterally from the Indus Waters Treaty, as it involves global entities like the World Bank, and Pakistan has pledged to contest the move legally. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office emphasized that water is a critical national interest for Pakistan, serving as a lifeline for its 240 million citizens. "The treaty is a binding international agreement brokered by the World Bank and contains no provision for unilateral suspension. Water is a vital national interest for Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people, and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs," Pakistan said.