India Suspends Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan
(Source – Front Page + Pages 4, 12, 13 & 16; Editorial on Page 8)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations, India-Pakistan relations |
| Context |
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Indus Waters Treaty (IWT): Overview
Background
- Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank.
- Aimed at cooperative sharing of the Indus River system waters.
Key Features
- Divides the Indus River system (6 rivers) into:
- Eastern Rivers: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej – allocated to India
- Western Rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab – allocated to Pakistan, with India having limited non-consumptive rights (e.g., for hydropower, navigation, agriculture within limits).
- Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) set up for dispute resolution and information exchange.
- Regarded as one of the most successful water-sharing agreements despite wars and tensions.
Recent Development (April 2025)
India Suspends the IWT
- Decision taken after Pahalgam terror attack (26 civilians killed).
- CCS chaired by PM Modi announced suspension with immediate effect.
- India demands Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ends support to terrorism before treaty restoration.
Implications of IWT Suspension
1. Geopolitical Impact
- First-ever suspension since 1960; sets a new strategic precedent in India’s Pakistan policy.
- May invite international scrutiny or mediation attempts, especially from World Bank and UN.
- Could push Pakistan closer to China or OIC bloc for diplomatic backing.
2. Strategic and Security Ramifications
- Water as a lever of pressure: suspending flows of western rivers could impact Pakistan’s agriculture and economy.
- Signifies assertive diplomatic signalling, aligning water use with national security concerns.
- May escalate tensions in already volatile border areas or LOC.
3. Legal and Treaty-Based Challenges
- India may face questions over treaty violation, since IWT does not contain explicit exit/suspension clauses.
- Suspension could weaken India’s global image as a rules-based power.
- Sets a precedent for future treaty abrogations by other countries under political pretexts.
4. Environmental and Technical Complexities
- Blocking western rivers not easy due to geographical and infrastructural limitations.
- Requires storage, diversion structures, or dam-building which are capital-intensive and time-consuming.
- Risk of flooding upstream in India or legal retaliation via international water bodies.
5. Bilateral Relations
- Further deterioration in India-Pakistan relations, halting backchannel or Track-II diplomacy.
- Could impact regional cooperation under SAARC, and exacerbate cross-border hostility.
Way Forward
- India may use this as a temporary strategic pause, not full abrogation.
- Need for building hydrological infrastructure to utilize its full share under IWT.
- May spark reforms in IWT architecture to allow for conditionality based on security concerns.
- Simultaneously, India must balance national interest with humanitarian and international obligations.
| Practice Question: The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) has long been hailed as a symbol of water diplomacy between India and Pakistan. In light of recent developments, critically examine the implications of suspending the treaty. Should national security override international treaty obligations? (150 Words /10 marks) |
