The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has long been regarded as a rare example of successful India-Pakistan cooperation, surviving wars and political upheavals for over six decades. The treaty governs the sharing of the Indus river system’s waters, crucial for millions of people in both countries.
However, relations between India and Pakistan have sharply deteriorated in recent years, especially following a series of high-profile terror attacks in India that New Delhi attributes to Pakistan-based groups. The most recent trigger was the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians and prompted India’s Cabinet Committee on Security to put the treaty in abeyance as a direct response.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Jaishankar stated:
“The Indus Waters Treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan demonstrates credible, verifiable, and irreversible action against cross-border terrorism. India cannot continue to honor agreements with a country that uses terror as an instrument of state policy.”
He emphasized that while India remains committed to peace and regional stability, national security and the safety of its citizens take precedence. Jaishankar also noted that the treaty contains no provisions for suspension, but India is invoking its sovereign right to respond to extraordinary circumstances.
By suspending the IWT, India is sending a clear message that cooperation on critical issues like water cannot continue in the face of persistent security threats. This move is intended to pressure Pakistan into taking tangible steps to dismantle terror networks operating from its soil.
Pakistan relies heavily on the Indus river system for agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower. The suspension of the treaty raises concerns about water scarcity and potential humanitarian impacts, especially as India has also stopped sharing flood data and begun operational changes at key dams.
The decision has drawn global attention, with the World Bank and other international observers urging both countries to resolve their differences through dialogue. However, India has made it clear that the resumption of the treaty is contingent on Pakistan’s actions, not diplomatic overtures.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources has already written to India, urging reconsideration of the suspension and warning of a looming water crisis. Islamabad has called the move “unilateral and illegal,” but has also signaled willingness to discuss India’s concerns if the treaty is restored.
India will closely monitor Pakistan’s actions on cross-border terrorism before considering any restoration of the treaty. The suspension of the IWT adds a new layer of complexity to already tense India-Pakistan relations, with potential ripple effects on regional stability and water diplomacy. International actors may attempt to mediate, but India’s position remains firm: security first, cooperation later.