The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, has escalated into a significant diplomatic standoff, with Pakistan repeatedly urging for its reinstatement amid a worsening water crisis.
Pakistan’s Pleas and India’s Response
Sources have confirmed that Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources sent four letters to India—beginning in May, just before Operation Sindoor, and continuing thereafter—requesting a reinstatement of the IWT, a World Bank-brokered water-sharing agreement signed in 1960.
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The letters, signed by Water Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza, were forwarded by India’s Jal Shakti Ministry to the Ministry of External Affairs.
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Pakistan also appealed to the World Bank, but sources indicate the Bank declined to intervene, citing its limited role.
India’s Stand
"Water and blood cannot flow together."This marked the strongest-ever assertion by India linking water diplomacy to national security.
Strategic Reallocation of Water
While suspending the treaty, India is accelerating plans to maximize the use of its allocated waters under the IWT—particularly the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi):
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A 130-km canal is in the works to connect the Beas river to the Ganga canal, aimed at boosting irrigation and supply to states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
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Another canal project is proposed to connect the Indus river to the Yamuna, which could further divert potential water flow away from Pakistan.
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A 12-km tunnel is also part of the broader 200-km water diversion infrastructure plan, for which a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being finalized.
Impact on Pakistan
Pakistan is already feeling the pressure:
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Rabi crops (wheat, barley, etc.) are likely to suffer first, since they rely heavily on consistent water flows from Indus and Jhelum.
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Kharif crops may be spared some impact due to the timing of the monsoon, but water storage concerns are growing.
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The suspension has deepened the water crisis in the country, particularly in Punjab and Sindh, where water shortages were already a concern.
Geopolitical Implications
The move to suspend a six-decade-old treaty—often praised as a rare example of India-Pakistan cooperation—marks a turning point in bilateral relations:
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It reflects India's shift toward using water diplomacy as strategic leverage.
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It signals to the international community that terrorism and cooperation cannot coexist, especially in areas as critical as natural resources.
Unless Pakistan responds with a credible and sustained crackdown on terror networks, the resumption of the Indus Waters Treaty appears unlikely in the near future.
