India has declared that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will not function in its current format unless Pakistan takes concrete and permanent steps to end cross-border terrorism against India. Government sources confirmed on Monday that any future revival of the crucial river-sharing agreement would require significant renegotiation and a modified structure.
Officials emphasized that while India is not currently considering a complete withdrawal from the treaty, it reserves the right to terminate any agreement deemed contrary to its national interests. The future of the IWT, therefore, hinges directly on Pakistan's actions regarding terror activities.
Treaty Abeyance and Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The Indus Waters Treaty was placed in abeyance by India following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack in April of the previous year, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. Indian authorities attributed the attack to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy organization for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). In response, India launched Operation Sindoor in May, targeting terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan.
Sources also refuted Pakistan's claims that India's suspension of the treaty was causing water shortages. They highlighted that Pakistan's own inadequate storage infrastructure, significant water leakages, and internal disputes over water sharing among its provinces are primary contributors to any water scarcity issues.
Obstruction of Hydropower Projects and Dispute Resolution Misuse
India has consistently accused Pakistan of obstructing its legitimate hydropower projects on the western rivers, irrespective of their technical specifications or scale. Projects such as Salal, Tulbul, Baglihar, Kishenganga, Ratle, Pakal Dul, and even a small 200-kilowatt project for a remote tribal area, have faced prolonged objections from Pakistan.
Furthermore, Pakistan is alleged to have misused the treaty's dispute resolution provisions. By escalating technical issues to third-party forums and pursuing parallel proceedings before both the Neutral Expert and the Court of Arbitration, Pakistan has reportedly delayed India's projects, circumventing the treaty's intended graded dispute resolution framework.
Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty
Signed on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations facilitated by the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty allocates the rights to the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to India. Pakistan, in turn, controls the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. The agreement permits India to construct run-of-river hydropower projects, like Kishenganga and Ratle, on the western rivers before their flow into Pakistan.