India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan After Pahalgam Attack
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. This includes ending meetings, halting water data exchange, expelling military advisers, and cancelling visa exemptions. The treaty, signed in 1960, had governed water sharing between the two nations.
Following the horrific terror attack on the Pahalgam town of Jammu & Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead, the Government of India has made the bold decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. This has been done by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
India will cease to provide hydrological information and attend meetings regarding the treaty unless Pakistan credibly abjures support for cross-border terrorism, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated.
What Is the Indus Waters Treaty?
Signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi, the Indus Waters Treaty was facilitated by the World Bank following years of negotiations between India and Pakistan. The treaty divides:
- The eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.
- The west-flowing rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan with restricted rights to India for uses including power generation and irrigation.
- The treaty also set up the Indus Commission, a two-country forum to settle water-sharing issues, allow inspections, and enforce compliance.
India's Recent Actions Against Pakistan
In addition to the suspension of the IWT, India has:
- Closed the Attari Integrated Check Post to Pakistani citizens, effective May 1, 2025.
- Cancelled all Saarc Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas held by Pakistani citizens.
- Directed Pakistani citizens in India on SVES to depart within 48 hours.
- Declared Pakistan's military advisers in New Delhi as persona non grata and instructed them to depart within one week.
- Withdrew its own military advisers and support staff from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Pakistan's Reaction
Pakistan has registered a strong protest, condemning India's move as a breach of international norms. Former minister Fawad Chaudhry and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also criticized the move. Pakistan's National Security Committee held an emergency meeting to plan a response.
Also Read: Kerala HC Judges Narrowly Escape Pahalgam Terror Attack; Left Hours Before Carnage
A Brief History of the Treaty
- After partition in 1947, sharing of waters was a bone of contention.
- India had temporarily shut off water supply to Pakistan in 1948, triggering a crisis.
- World Bank official David Lilienthal's mediation resulted in decade-long negotiations.
- It was finally signed by PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan in 1960.
Conclusion
India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is a serious diplomatic escalation that showcases its zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. Whether or not it will make Pakistan change its policy on cross-border militancy remains to be seen.