India has firmly stated that it will not resume talks with Pakistan regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) until its concerns about cross-border terrorism are addressed and the treaty is comprehensively revamped. This position comes in response to Pakistan's repeated attempts to re-engage in discussions about the treaty, which India suspended following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, that resulted in the death of 26 civilians.
Sources indicate that Syed Ali Murtaza, Pakistan's Water Resources Secretary, has sent multiple letters to his Indian counterpart, Debashree Mukherjee, expressing Pakistan's willingness to discuss specific objections raised by India. However, India has not responded to these overtures and maintains that no engagement will occur until Pakistan takes credible and irreversible steps to end its support for cross-border terrorism. This stance reflects India's position that "terror and talks cannot go together" and that "water and blood cannot flow together."
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. The treaty allocates the three "Eastern Rivers" (Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej) to India and the three "Western Rivers" (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) to Pakistan. While the treaty has been considered a successful example of water sharing for over six decades, India has increasingly asserted that Pakistan has violated the spirit of the agreement by engaging in cross-border terrorism and obstructing necessary upgrades to water infrastructure.
India's decision to put the IWT in abeyance marks a significant shift in its approach to the treaty. It's the first time New Delhi has paused the World Bank-backed agreement. This move was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the highest body for strategic matters, underscoring the importance India places on addressing its security concerns. In addition, after suspending the IWT, India is planning a study to maximize the utilization 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.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is facing a looming water crisis and has urged India to reconsider its decision. Some Pakistani officials have warned of the potential for escalating tensions and have called for dialogue to resolve the issue. Pakistan has sent at least four letters to India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has criticized India's suspension of the IWT, calling it a unilateral and illegal decision. However, India remains firm in its position, asserting that the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan credibly and permanently stops supporting cross-border terrorism.
In addition to its diplomatic stance, India is also taking steps to bolster its water storage and canal infrastructure. This proactive approach aims to strategically position India to divert the flow of water from the Indus basin ahead of any potential negotiations. These projects include plans to construct a canal to divert water from the Indus river system to various Indian states.
The ongoing tensions surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty highlight the complex relationship between India and Pakistan. While the treaty has been a cornerstone of water management for many years, the issue of cross-border terrorism has become a significant impediment to cooperation. Until India's concerns about terrorism are addressed, the future of the IWT and the prospects for water cooperation between the two countries remain uncertain.
