On April 24, 2025, India took a step that can redefine South Asia’s water politics. The government informed Pakistan—unequivocally and officially—that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) no longer exists.
This step did not happen in a vacuum. It came after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 24, 2025, when 26 Indians lost their lives. The terrorists had definite connections to Pakistan. In retaliation, India did not merely condemn. It acted—with speed and definiteness.
The nation announced a three-stage plan to prevent Indus River water from entering Pakistan. This was not merely punishment. It was a strategic realignment—from reactive diplomacy to proactive deterrence.
How the Indus Waters Treaty Assisted Pakistan for 64 Years ?
The IWT, which was signed in 1960 with assistance from the World Bank, provided Pakistan with access to 70% of the water of the Indus system—about 135 million acre-feet per year.
India got the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), and Pakistan received the western ones (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). Even during times of war, both countries respected this water-sharing agreement. That’s how robust the treaty was—until recently.
India Says “No More”: Treaty Put on Hold
This week, Indian Water Resources Secretary Debashree Mukherjee served a formal notice to her Pakistani counterpart.
“Cannot maintain a treaty based on good faith if you keep promoting cross-border terrorism.”
India went further. It stopped data exchange, canceled commissioner of the treaties meetings, and denied clearances to projects which had earlier required Pakistani inputs.
India’s 3-Step Strategy: From Borders to Rivers
In a high-level conference headed by Home Minister Amit Shah, India described a clear-cut strategy:
1. Short-Term Moves: Swift Action on the Ground
- India cancelled all visas issued to Pakistanis, other than persecuted marginalized groups.
- It offered Pakistani nationals 72 hours’ notice to exit Indian territory.
- Security operations intensified in Jammu and Kashmir under authorities.
- State governments actively followed and deported Pakistani nationals.
It wasn’t simply bureaucratic posturing. It was a message: India is not playing the game of the old rules anymore.
2. Mid-Term Strategies: Water Control Infrastructure
- India immediately set to desilting current dams in order to increase water storage.
- Officials also sanctioned new reservoir projects in frontier areas.
Previously, Pakistan had the right to protest hydropower plants in Jammu and Kashmir. Not anymore. Today, India is free to act—on its own terms.
3. Long-Term Plan: Full River Diversion
Now matters get even more serious. India intends to:
- Divert the Jhelum and Chenab to benefit Indian areas.
- Redirect eastern rivers for irrigation and hydropower.
- Construct a grand water grid of canals, dams, and tunnels—without asking permission from anyone.
This is not mere revenge. It’s a change of national water policy.
Geography as a Weapon: India’s New Deterrence Strategy
Rather than fire missiles, India is now threatening to use rivers.
Pakistan gets more than 80% of its agriculture and a significant portion of its drinking water from the Indus.
By halting water flow, India targets Pakistan’s economy without crossing military lines. This form of asymmetric pressure is hard to match—and harder to reverse.
India Tells World Bank: We’re Ready for a Fight
The World Bank helped craft the original treaty. But India seems ready to part ways.
Officials say they’ve prepared for legal challenges and global blowback. A senior officer told News18:
“If Pakistan goes to the World Bank, we’ll respond with full force.”
Moreover, India stopped sharing hydrological data—critical for Pakistan’s flood and drought planning. That means future crises could strike without warning.
Voices from India: From Kashmir to New Delhi
The reaction within India was swift and political. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the move. He said: “This treaty was always unfair to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The BJP used the moment to remind citizens of Modi’s 2016 words: “Blood and water cannot flow together.”
Party leaders highlighted how India restrained itself after Pulwama—but this time, the red line was crossed.
Pakistan’s Reaction: ‘This is an Act of War’
In Islamabad, the message sparked fury.
Officials cautioned that any decrease in flow of water would be considered a “declaration of war.” They reminded the world that more than 240 million Pakistanis rely on these rivers.
For decades, the Indus Waters Treaty stood as a beacon of hope in the midst of enmity. Now, this symbol is shattered.
Precedent for Power and Policy: What’s Next ?
India’s strong action has redrawn the playbook. Treaties from now on are only as solid as the trust that upholds them.
The nation has demonstrated that terrorism will not go unpunished—not with rhetoric or warnings, but with strategic pressure.
This choice relocates the centre of gravity—from river basins to land borders. And in so doing, India has made one thing clear: national security now encompasses every drop of water that crosses its borders.
