The Indus Water Treaty (IWT), a landmark agreement between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has been a subject of intense discussion and scrutiny in recent weeks. Following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, India suspended its adherence to the treaty, citing Pakistan's involvement in cross-border terrorism. This has led to a series of developments, including a meeting scheduled between Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and farmers from North Indian states to discuss the potential benefits of keeping the IWT in abeyance.
The IWT allocates the waters of six rivers in the Indus Basin between the two countries. India has complete control over the three eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—while Pakistan has rights over the three western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. Under the treaty, India is allowed limited use of the western rivers for irrigation and hydropower projects but must not significantly affect the water flow to Pakistan.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made it clear that the treaty will remain "in abeyance" until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably stops cross-border terrorism. He also emphasized that India is willing to engage with Pakistan only on issues related to terrorism and the return of illegally occupied territories in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), rejecting broader talks on Kashmir or the treaty itself for the time being.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to meet with farmers from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Western Uttar Pradesh at the ICAR Pusa campus. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how keeping the IWT in abeyance will benefit them and secure their future. Chouhan is expected to highlight the losses they have suffered due to water sharing under the IWT and the role of the Congress party in enabling that.
India is considering a significant escalation in its use of water from the Indus river system, a move that could drastically reduce the water supply to Pakistan. One of the key plans under discussion involves doubling the length of the Ranbir canal on the Chenab, which runs through India to Pakistan's agricultural powerhouse of Punjab.
Pakistan relies on the Indus river system for approximately 80% of its agriculture and much of its hydropower generation. Any substantial reduction in water flow could have severe consequences for Pakistan's food security, economy, and energy supply. Islamabad has already reported a 90% drop in water levels at a critical receiving point following Indian maintenance work on Indus projects, providing a glimpse of the pressure it might face if India proceeds with its plans. Pakistan has condemned India's suspension of the treaty and warned that attempts to halt or divert water flows would be considered an "act of war."
Despite the suspension, Pakistan has expressed willingness to restart talks with India regarding the IWT. A letter from Pakistan's Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Syed Ali Murtaza, was sent to India's Water Secretary, Debashree Mukherkjee, requesting India to nominate representatives who could engage in talks with Pakistan's Indus Commissioner.
The Indian government is also exploring ways to utilize the water, which was earlier released to Pakistan under the IWT, for providing irrigation facilities to Indian farmers, especially in bordering states. Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil has stated that steps are being taken to ensure that not a single drop of water is allowed out of Indian territory. India has announced a three-tier strategy—short-term, mid-term, and long-term—to prevent any flow of Indus waters into Pakistan and utilize the water for irrigation.
