Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a resolute address on India's 79th Independence Day from the Red Fort, declared the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) "unjust," emphasizing that "blood and water cannot flow together". This statement marks a significant shift in India's stance on the decades-old treaty with Pakistan, signaling a move towards decisive action regarding water rights.
Modi asserted that Indian farmers have been unfairly deprived under the treaty and deserve full rights to the waters of the Indus River and its tributaries. He accused the treaty of allowing waters originating in India to irrigate the fields of "enemies," while Indian farmers and land remain parched. He questioned the nature of an agreement that has caused "unimaginable losses" to Indian farmers for the last seven decades, stating that the right to water belongs to India and its farmers alone. "The waters that belong to India will be used by India, for India's farmers alone," he affirmed.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, was signed in 1960 by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan. The treaty granted India control over the waters of the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, while Pakistan gained control of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers. While the treaty allowed India to use the Western Rivers for limited irrigation and unlimited non-consumptive uses like power generation, navigation, and fish culture, Modi argued that the agreement has disproportionately favored Pakistan, leaving Indian farmers with inadequate access to water.
India's decision to suspend the treaty follows a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists. This event appears to have been a catalyst for India's reassessment of the IWT, with Modi stating that "India has decided that blood and water cannot flow together". In response to India's suspension of the treaty, Pakistan has urged India to reconsider.
India has long-standing concerns about the treaty, stating that it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Arbitration in matters related to the IWT. India insists on using a neutral expert mechanism to resolve disputes. Pakistan, however, has welcomed the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling on the treaty, which interprets design criteria for Indian hydropower projects on the Western Rivers.
The Indian government has also expressed its intent to expedite long-stalled infrastructure projects on the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers. These projects aim to utilize India's share of the water and provide clean energy.
The suspension of the IWT and India's assertion of its right to utilize the Indus waters have raised concerns about potential ecological consequences in the Himalayan region. Some experts caution that the construction of hydropower projects could lead to increased risks of landslides, floods, and ecological collapse.
Pakistan's Federal Minister for Water Resources has criticized India's decision to suspend the IWT, stating that India is attempting to "run away" from the agreement. The Minister also emphasized that neither India nor Pakistan can unilaterally terminate the treaty. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asserted that Pakistan will not allow India to snatch "even one drop" of its water.
The situation remains tense, with both countries holding firm to their positions. India maintains that the IWT will remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible action against cross-border terrorism. The future of the Indus Waters Treaty and its impact on both India and Pakistan remains uncertain.
