New Delhi: Following the tragic terror attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a series of decisive actions to respond firmly to Pakistan. Among the most significant is the move to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) into abeyance—a decision that has been years in the making and reflects a meticulously planned strategic shift.
Prime Minister Modi, in subsequent public addresses, emphasized that India would not retreat under provocation and hinted that Pakistan is beginning to feel the pressure of this calculated move. However, this decision was not made overnight. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India has been working on this strategy for years, with detailed coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs and the Jal Shakti Ministry.
A senior government source described the decision as a “surgical strike in perpetuity” targeting a critical vulnerability of Pakistan, which is heavily dependent on Indus waters as a lower riparian nation. The Indian government has long observed Pakistan’s non-cooperative and obstructionist behavior within the framework of the treaty—often blocking India’s attempts to undertake legitimate development projects and water usage under the treaty’s terms.
Though the IWT, signed in 1960, lacks a clause for unilateral termination, India has explored provisions allowing review and modification by mutual consent. The outdated treaty, shaped by 1950s and 1960s engineering and hydrological standards, has become increasingly incompatible with modern challenges such as climate change, glacial melt, population growth, and clean energy demands.
India’s suspension of the treaty fundamentally alters the water dynamics in the region. With control over six rivers, India now holds significant leverage. The suspension of the bilateral water commissioners and halt in data sharing further deepens the impact on Pakistan, which relied on the treaty to access crucial water flow information.
Previously, even minor construction work required India to notify Pakistan six months in advance—requests that were frequently stalled or blocked by Islamabad. Now, with the treaty inactive, those bureaucratic hurdles are removed, allowing India to focus on its water needs without interference.
Officials argue that Pakistan has eroded the foundational goodwill of the treaty through its continued support for cross-border terrorism. The generosity extended to Pakistan for decades is no longer sustainable, they say, particularly in light of the original treaty’s assumption that Pakistan would refrain from hostile actions.
To reinforce its stance, India has ensured that its legal and diplomatic bases are covered. Pakistan was officially informed of the decision, with India citing its incompatibility with the neighborhood-first policy amid ongoing terrorism. Moreover, India communicated with the World Bank—an original broker of the treaty—who clarified that it holds no authority in resolving such bilateral disputes.
While Pakistan appears ready to internationalize the matter—potentially even approaching the International Court of Justice—India is equally prepared to counter any legal challenge. Senior leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil have held multiple high-level meetings to create a phased response plan that includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals to maximize national welfare from this shift.
Minister Patil was unequivocal, stating that not a single drop of water would go to Pakistan. The Indian government has underlined that its focus is solely on the welfare of its people and has no patience left for hollow threats, including recent warnings from the Pakistani military.
With Pakistan attempting to rally global sympathy, India has made it clear: any future dialogue will only occur if Pakistan takes concrete steps to dismantle its terror networks and relinquishes control over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Until then, India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty signals a new era of assertive diplomacy, aligning national security with water sovereignty
