Indus Water Treaty Suspended on Pahalgam Terror Attack by India

24-04-2025

06:35 AM

Indus Water Treaty ..webp

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in Karachi between India and Pakistan on 19 September, 1960. The treaty was brokered by the World Bank. While the treaty has withstood three wars in between India and Pakistan- 1965, 1971 and 1999. However, based on the seriousness of the recent terrorist attack, the treaty has been suspended by the Government of India. 

Indus Water Treaty 1960 Overview 

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank acting as a mediator. The treaty outlines water usage rights over six rivers of the Indus River System, categorizing them into Eastern and Western rivers. 

  • The Eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—are allocated for India’s exclusive and unrestricted use. 
  • The Western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—are allocated primarily to Pakistan. 

However, India is permitted limited use of these rivers for specific non-consumptive purposes such as domestic use, navigation, flood control, agriculture, and hydropower generation without altering the flow.

Also Read: Pahalgam Terror Attack

Indus Water Treaty Dispute Resolution Mechanism

The Indus Water Treaty division gives Pakistan access to about 70% of the water, while India retains around 30%. For implementation, both countries are required to appoint Permanent Commissioners for Indus Waters, who act as the primary channel of communication for all treaty-related matters.

To resolve disputes, the treaty provides a three-tier dispute resolution mechanism:

  1. Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) – for addressing technical and interpretational issues.
  2. Neutral Expert – appointed either by the World Bank or jointly by both nations to resolve technical disputes unresolved by the PIC.
  3. Court of Arbitration – a seven-member tribunal that adjudicates legal disputes if other mechanisms fail.

This treaty remains a cornerstone of water-sharing cooperation between the two countries despite decades of geopolitical tensions.

Indus Water Treaty Hydroelectric Projects

India has been constructing run-of-river projects on the Indus River which has been objected to by Pakistan as it impacts their agricultural land water supply. The Hydroelectric Water Projects include: 

  • 330 MW Kishenganga Project, inaugurated in 2018 on Jhelum River
  • 850 MW Ratle Project, under construction, on Chenab River 

Indus Water Treaty Suspended by India 

The Indus Water Treaty has a long history of antagonism between India and Pakistan and was suspended for the first time by New Delhi. This decision was made in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack where 26 people were killed. The impact of suspending the treaty is:

  • The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty gives India multiple options to decide how to use the water. 
  • India can decide to stop sharing water flow data with Pakistan. 
  • There will be no design or operational restrictions on India for the use of the water of the Indus and its tributaries. 
  • Also, India can create storage on the western rivers, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. 
  • India can also stop visits by Pakistani officials to the two hydroelectric projects currently under construction in Jammu & Kashmir- the Kishenganga HEP on Kishenganga, a tributary of Jhelum and Ratle HEP on the Chenab. 
  • India can also undertake reservoir flushing on the Kishenganga project which will increase the life of the dam. 

Indus Water Treaty Challenges

The Indus Water Treaty poses several challenges for India: 

  • Pakistan’s Objections to Indian Projects: Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over Indian hydropower projects such as the Kishanganga (on the Jhelum River) and Ratle (on the Chenab River), arguing that they violate the technical provisions of the treaty, particularly in terms of design and water flow regulation.
     
  • Environmental Challenges: The accelerated melting of Himalayan glaciers due to climate change threatens to disrupt the natural flow patterns of the Indus River system, raising concerns over long-term water availability and treaty relevance.
     
  • India’s Evolving Demands: With a growing population, expanding agricultural needs, and an increasing push for clean energy through hydropower, India is re-examining its water entitlements under the treaty to better align with current and future developmental requirements.
     
  • Strategic and Security Dimensions:

    • Geopolitical Leverage: Water has become a tool of strategic diplomacy, with statements like "blood and water cannot flow together" underlining its symbolic and tactical significance in India-Pakistan relations.
    • Link to Terrorism: In the wake of terrorist attacks such as the 2016 Uri incident, India has emphasized that continued treaty cooperation must be evaluated alongside cross-border security concerns, raising the question of conditional engagement based on Pakistan’s actions.

Indus Water Treaty FAQs

Q1. What are the main points of Indus Water Treaty?
Ans: The treaty allocates the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, with specific non-consumptive rights to India.

Q2. Did India cancel the Indus Water Treaty?
Ans: No, India has not cancelled the Indus Water Treaty, but has suspended it as a response to the Pahalgam Terrorist attack.

Q3. What is Article 9 of the IWT?
Ans: Article 9 provides a three-tier dispute resolution mechanism—Permanent Indus Commission, Neutral Expert, and Court of Arbitration—for resolving treaty-related issues.

Q4. What treaty was signed between India and Pakistan?
Ans: The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus river system.

Q5. How many rivers were given to India in the Indus Water Treaty?
Ans: Three rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—were allocated to India for unrestricted use.