Shillong, April 24: For the very first time, India on Wednesday has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, days after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 28 people, including foreign tourists.

The move was made during a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by key officials, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

“The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

The attack has been linked to militant groups operating from Pakistani soil, prompting India to take this aggressive diplomatic and strategic step — effectively hitting Islamabad where it hurts most: water security.

What is the Indus Waters Treaty?

Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank. The Treaty has 12 Articles and 8 Annexures (from A to H).

According to the provisions of the Treaty, all the water of the “Eastern Rivers” of the Indus system — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi — shall be available for the “unrestricted use” of India. Pakistan shall receive water from the “Western Rivers” — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

The treaty has long been hailed as one of the most resilient water-sharing agreements in the world — surviving wars, border conflicts and terrorism. Until now.

Why has India suspended the Treaty now?

The April 22, Pahalgam attack was one of the deadliest in recent years. With Pakistan-based groups reportedly behind it, India has decided to recalibrate its strategy — not only diplomatically isolating Pakistan but now weaponizing water as a form of pressure.

By suspending the treaty:

•India can immediately 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.
•India can now create storage on the Western Rivers, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab

Has India done this before?

India has never suspended the treaty before — not even during full-scale wars with Pakistan in 1965, 1971, or the Kargil conflict of 1999.

However, India has threatened to revisit or “maximize its use” of the treaty in recent years:
•After the Uri attack in 2016, Prime Minister Modi famously said, “Blood and water cannot flow together.” India increased focus on dam construction but didn’t pull out.
•Post the Pulwama attack in 2019, India announced plans to stop water flow into Pakistan from the eastern rivers, though it remained within treaty limits.

What happens to Pakistan now?

Pakistan is heavily dependent on the Indus River system for:
•90% of its agricultural needs
•Drinking water
•Energy production through hydropower

The suspension threatens:
•Widespread water shortages, especially in Punjab and Sindh
•Food insecurity
•Increased internal unrest and economic instability

According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), irrigated agriculture in Pakistan provides 90% of the country’s food and fiber production. The Indus Basin Irrigation System, which includes the Indus River and its tributaries, is the major source of water for this irrigation system.

A report from Pakistan Today highlights that Punjab and Sindh provinces are facing up to a 35% water shortage due to the depletion of the Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs. This shortage poses a significant threat to wheat production and could lead to food insecurity in the region.

While specific responses to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty are speculative, historical precedents suggest that Pakistan may appeal to international forums such as the United Nations or the World Bank. Additionally, heightened diplomatic tensions could lead to increased internal unrest and economic instability, as indicated by various analyses of the geopolitical situation.

Can Pakistan invoke arbitration under the Indus Waters Treaty after India’s suspension?

While the Indus Waters Treaty does not allow either India or Pakistan to unilaterally withdraw — lacking both an exit clause and a termination date — it does include a clear path for resolving disputes. Any changes to the Treaty must be mutually agreed upon, making India’s recent suspension a political rather than legal move.

However, if Pakistan chooses to challenge India’s action, the Treaty provides a structured mechanism under Article IX. Disputes are first to be raised before the Permanent Indus Commission. If unresolved, the matter can escalate to a neutral expert, and ultimately, to a court of arbitration, as outlined in Annexures F and G. So far, Pakistan has not formally responded to India’s suspension, but it retains the legal tools within the Treaty to do so.

India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is part of a broader, coordinated diplomatic and strategic response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which New Delhi has linked to Pakistan-based militant groups. The move signals a clear departure from past restraint, as India seeks to isolate Pakistan on multiple fronts — not just through water diplomacy, but also by severing key lines of contact.

Alongside the suspension of the treaty, India has taken several additional steps aimed at tightening pressure on Islamabad. It has shut down the Attari integrated check post — one of the few operational land crossings between the two countries — effectively halting cross-border movement and trade. The government also revoked the SAARC visa exemption scheme for Pakistani nationals, further restricting bilateral exchanges under the South Asian regional framework.

In a strong diplomatic blow, India expelled military attachés from the Pakistani High Commission and slashed the strength of diplomatic staff on both sides — bringing the number down from 55 to just 30. This significant reduction reflects the rapidly deteriorating ties and India’s intent to scale back all but essential diplomatic interaction.

As of now, Pakistan has not officially responded to these actions. However, the message from New Delhi is unmistakable: terror strikes will no longer be met with words alone — they will carry escalating consequences across multiple domains.

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