India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty After Pahalgam Attack, Marking Historic Shift in Indo-Pak Relations
(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained, Page – 19)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations |
| Context |
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Analysis of the news:
Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty
- Signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, the IWT allocates use of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan.
- India has rights over the eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej), while Pakistan controls the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), which carry 70% of the water.
- India is obligated to let the western rivers flow unimpeded to Pakistan.
First-Ever Suspension of the Treaty
- Though the IWT has withstood wars and past terror attacks, this is the first time India has formally suspended the treaty.
- India had earlier signaled intentions to renegotiate it, citing evolving geopolitical, environmental, and developmental concerns, especially as Pakistan repeatedly objected to Indian hydropower projects in Jammu & Kashmir.
Implications for Pakistan
- The treaty has no exit clause, and suspension leaves Pakistan with limited legal options.
- While the IWT includes a dispute resolution mechanism, it becomes ineffective if India no longer abides by the treaty.
- With ICJ jurisdiction blocked by India’s reservations, Pakistan may lack a peaceful or legal path to enforce compliance.
Strategic Gains for India
- Suspending the treaty opens up strategic options for India: it can stop sharing hydrological data, restrict Pakistani inspections of project sites, and pursue previously constrained infrastructure projects such as water storage on the western rivers.
- However, immediate gains are limited due to India’s current infrastructural limitations.
Long-Term Impact and Geopolitical Calculus
- While the suspension won’t immediately alter water flows, it significantly raises the stakes in Indo-Pak ties.
- It signals India’s willingness to leverage water as a strategic tool in response to terrorism, marking a new chapter in an already fragile bilateral relationship.
| Practice Question: Critically analyze the implications of India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan in the context of national security concerns, bilateral relations, and regional stability. (250 Words /15 marks) |
