India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing agreement with Pakistan brokered by the World Bank. This decision came on April 23, just one day after a deadly shooting in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir. It marks the first time the treaty has been paused since it was signed in 1960.
Pakistan responded by warning that any attempt to block the flow of water would be seen as an “act of war.” The situation escalated into four days of fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The conflict ended after a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was announced on Saturday, with both countries stepping back from the edge of war.
Water resources remain a critical issue between India and Pakistan. The Indus Waters Treaty divides six main rivers in the Indus basin. The three western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—are allocated to Pakistan. Meanwhile, the three eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—are used by India.
According to ABC News, India has also accelerated construction of four new hydropower projects on rivers that flow into Pakistan. Additionally, India has stopped sharing river flow data with Islamabad.
David Michel, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explained that while India cannot immediately stop water flow to Pakistan because of existing infrastructure, it can cut off data sharing. He said:
“The treaty requires sharing detailed information about projects, river flows, and water conditions. By suspending the treaty, India can withhold this data, including flood warnings. This could harm Pakistan’s water management and put lives and livelihoods at risk.”
Concerns are growing over India’s dam-building activities, especially on the western rivers that supply Pakistan. Critics worry that expanding dams could reduce water flow to Pakistan.
Pakistan depends heavily on the Indus basin rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and electricity. Agriculture makes up nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s GDP.
According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Pakistan generated 34.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity from hydropower in 2022, all sourced from the Indus basin. Hydropower is Pakistan’s second-largest electricity source, after natural gas, which produced 47 TWh (about 27 percent).
Other energy sources in Pakistan include oil (16.6 percent), coal (15.9 percent), and nuclear power (15.6 percent).The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty raises serious concerns about water security and regional stability in South Asia.
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