Indus Water Treaty Suspended After Pahalgam Attack | Consequences for India-Pakistan | Tushar Gupta

On April 23, 2025, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a 1960 World Bank‑brokered agreement with Pakistan, following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 28 civilians. The IWT, a cornerstone of water‑sharing cooperation, allocates the waters of the Indus River system, with India controlling the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi) and Pakistan receiving the majority of the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). India’s decision, announced by the Cabinet Committee on Security, aims to pressure Pakistan, citing cross‑border terrorism as justification. The suspension could severely impact Pakistan, where 80 % of irrigated agriculture and 90 % of food production depend on the Indus system, potentially disrupting crops, hydroelectric power, and water supply. Pakistan has called the move “water warfare,” labeling it illegal and an “act of war,” and plans to challenge it legally, emphasizing the treaty’s binding nature. While India can now halt data sharing and pursue unrestricted hydro projects, experts warn of heightened tensions and potential regional instability. The suspension marks a shift from the treaty’s resilience through decades of conflict, raising concerns about water becoming a strategic weapon in India‑Pakistan relations.