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India.com
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Water For Peace Or Terrorism? India's Indus Treaty Suspension Sinks Pakistan Into Crisis, Diplomacy In Overdrive
New Delhi: In the rugged terrain of diplomacy and decades-old treaties, water – which is often considered the harbinger of life – has now turned into a powerful instrument of geopolitical assertion. What was once a rare symbol of bilateral cooperation between India and Pakistan, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), now hangs in limbo, dangling between Islamabad's urgent pleas and New Delhi's steely silence. In April, India made a stunning move by suspending the treaty following the brutal Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 26 innocent lives in Jammu and Kashmir. For India, the message was enough is enough. Tolerance for cross-border terrorism has hit its limit, and business-as-usual is no longer acceptable, not even when it comes to sharing vital water resources. According to sources in New Delhi, Pakistan's Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza has reached out multiple times to his Indian counterpart Debashree Mukherjee. His letters speak of urgency, diplomacy and an apparent willingness to address New Delhi's 'specific objections'. But India has not replied. Not once. India's official stance? 'No dialogue on water, unless terrorism ends—credibly and irreversibly.' The fallout from this hardline position has already begun to ripple across Pakistan. A recent report by Pakistan's own Indus River System Authority recorded a 13.3% drop in year-on-year water flow from the Indus River. This decline is jeopardising critical Kharif crop sowing in its Punjab province. Farmers are now at the mercy of delayed monsoon rains, with scorching heatwaves compounding the crisis. A Nation on the Brink What began as a tactical diplomatic suspension by India has morphed into a full-blown existential threat for Pakistan. Over 80% of its agriculture depends on the Indus system. The flow from rivers like Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, which Pakistan heavily relies on, has reduced drastically. Experts now warn of a dual crisis – agricultural collapse and potential floods, as India is no longer obligated to share critical flood data. Facing mounting pressure at home, Pakistan has unleashed a global diplomatic offensive. A nine-member delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari first landed in the United States and pitched Pakistan's side of the story before UN officials and senior American diplomats. 'Our message was Pakistan seeks peace,' said former Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani. They were not only talking about water. They were talking about survival. Parliamentarian Khurram Dastgir warned US officials that the treaty's suspension 'endangers the livelihood of 240 million people'. Climate Minister Musadik Malik echoed those fears and flagged food security and environmental devastation as looming threats if the treaty is not revived. Pakistan also dispatched delegations to the United Kingdom, where lawmakers were told Islamabad remains 'committed to regional peace' and seeks to restore the IWT through 'composite dialogue'. India is Playing with Precision Back home, India remains unfazed by Pakistan's global outreach. Once unthinkable, the suspension of the IWT has triggered introspection within Indian strategic circles. Renowned geopolitical expert Brahma Chellaney called the treaty 'the world's most lopsided and inequitable water-sharing agreement'. He emphasised that Pakistan receives over 80.5% of the Indus system's waters, including almost 100% of the western rivers. Despite being the upstream state, India settled for only 19.5%. 'Pakistan repaid India's generosity not with gratitude, but with grenades and guns,' Chellaney wrote bluntly on X, citing a long list of terror attacks from the 2001 Parliament attack to the 2024 Pahalgam massacre. For him, the treaty is not only about water, it is about trust. And that trust, he says, is 'systematically dismantled'. Some Indian media reports incorrectly state that Pakistan gets 80% of the waters of the western rivers (the Indus system's three main rivers). As this chart from my book shows, Pakistan gets 80.52% of the total waters of the six-river Indus system — and almost 100% of the western… — Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) June 9, 2025 Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satish Chandra, called the treaty a 'Brahmastra', warning that its full termination could cause 'extreme pain' and long-term disruption in Pakistan. What Happens Now? As Pakistan floods foreign capitals with diplomatic appeals and farmers grapple with parched fields, New Delhi remains unmoved. For India, any talks about Indus waters hinge solely on one condition: 'Concrete, irreversible action against terrorism.' Whether the global community can mediate or Pakistan can muster internal resolve to act on India's concerns remains to be seen. But for now, once a river of peace, the Indus is fast becoming a river of reckoning.
Deccan Herald
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
India won't hold talks on Indus Waters Treaty until terror concerns addressed: Sources on Pakistan's repeated attempts
In multiple letters to his Indian counterpart, Debashree Mukherjee, Murtaza has repeatedly expressed his government's readiness to discuss specific objections raised by New Delhi.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India cannot hold talks on IWT until terror concerns addressed: Sources on Pak's repeated attempts
India will not engage with Pakistan on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) till New Delhi's concerns regarding terrorism are addressed and the pact is completely revamped, sources said. They said Pakistan's Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza has reached out multiple times, urging India to reconsider the decision to put the IWT in abeyance. In multiple letters to his Indian counterpart, Debashree Mukherjee, Murtaza has repeatedly expressed his government's readiness to discuss specific objections raised by New Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout 2.0: Supercharged Crossout Play Now India has not responded to any of Pakistan's letters and will not engage with the neighbouring country in any capacity till New Delhi's concerns regarding terrorism are addressed and the pact is completely revamped, the sources said. India placed the 1960 IWT in abeyance following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack , in which 26 people were killed and Mukherjee had officially conveyed the decision to Pakistan. Live Events Brokered by the World Bank , the IWT has governed the distribution and use of the water of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960. The Indus river system comprises the main river, the Indus, and its tributaries. Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are collectively referred to as the eastern rivers, while the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab are known as the western rivers. After putting the IWT in abeyance, India is planning a study to maximise the utilisation of its share of water within the treaty with Pakistan. The study aims at optimising water resources, including the development of new infrastructure, and ensuring that India's rights under the treaty are fully utilised.
News18
06-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Reconsider Indus Waters Treaty Suspension': Pakistan Sent 4 Letters To India, 3 After Op Sindoor
Last Updated: In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reiterated that 'trade and terror, water and blood, bullets and dialogue cannot go together' Pakistan has so far sent four letters expressing concerns over suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and urging India to reconsider the decision. After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, India's Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Debashree Mukherjee, wrote to Pakistan's Water Ministry Secretary, Syed Ali Murtaza. The letter unequivocally stated that India remains a victim of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. India cited this context, alongside technical arguments, in communicating its decision to suspend its participation in the IWT. PAKISTAN'S LETTERS The first was dispatched in early May, before the launch of Operation Sindoor. Since then, three additional appeals have been sent by Murtaza. According to sources, all correspondence has been routed through the Ministry of Jal Shakti to the Ministry of External Affairs. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reiterated that 'trade and terror, water and blood, bullets and dialogue cannot go together". HOW IWT SUSPENSION HELPED INDIA India has since accelerated work on strategic water infrastructure projects related to the Indus river system. A key initiative is a 130-kilometre canal designed to link the Beas River to the Ganga Canal, with a proposed extension to the Yamuna River. The nearly 200-kilometre project includes a 12-kilometre tunnel, potentially enabling Yamuna water to reach Gangasagar. States such as Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan are projected to benefit from this initiative. The government has stated that the work is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed within two to three years. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is also being prepared. WHAT IT MEANS FOR PAKISTAN Sources suggest the suspension of the treaty could significantly affect Pakistan's Rabi crops, while the Kharif season will remain relatively unaffected. Beyond agriculture, the disruption could impact daily life, potentially leading to a water availability crisis. Pakistan has reportedly approached the World Bank to mediate. However, the World Bank has so far declined to intervene in India's internal decision to suspend its participation in the treaty. India has emphasized the need to revisit and renegotiate the treaty to reflect 21st-century realities. The original treaty, drafted in the 1950s and 1960s, is increasingly viewed as outdated due to changing hydrological patterns, glacial melt, population growth, and the need for sustainable energy and water management. Despite India's push for modernisation, Pakistan has resisted renegotiation. According to Indian officials, this stance itself contravenes the treaty's provisions. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has also announced a range of diplomatic and strategic responses, including the suspension of its participation in the IWT. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
States told to take precautionary steps to mitigate impact of potential flood
NEW DELHI: Given the forecast for an above-normal monsoon this year, the Centre will issue an advisory to state governments on taking precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of floods. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the early onset of an above-normal southwest monsoon (SWM) for 2025. The SWM is responsible for 75% of the country's total rainfall, but it also brings the risk of disasters. India is among the countries most affected by floods, accounting for 20% of the world's flood-related deaths and causing significant loss of life and property. States are being urged to review the capacity of their dams and barrages and address siltation challenges to store more water before the monsoon arrives. The Ministry of Jal Shakti's Flood Division will provide technical support to assist with this. 'The government will send detailed guidelines to state governments on how to prepare for and mitigate floods before the onset of the monsoon,' said an official, following consultations with Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Jal Shakti.
