Indus Waters Treaty Suspended by India: Legal and Strategic Fallout
Why in the news
After the Pahalgam terror attack, India put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold and tied its revival to Pakistan ending cross-border terrorism for good.
Key facts
- Vienna Convention: India may cite Articles 60 and 62, though it is not a signatory and Pakistan has not ratified.
- Pakistan’s options: the ICJ, the Permanent Court of Arbitration or World Bank channels; the dispute may be internationalised.
- India’s levers: stop sharing flow data, time releases to shape floods and droughts, avoid scrutiny of western-river (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) projects.
| Parameter | Allowed | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 3.6 MAF | About 1 MAF |
| Irrigation (J&K, Ladakh) | 1.34 million acres | About 0.642 million acres |
Concerns
- Kishanganga, Ratle and Baglihar are run-of-the-river with little storage; terrain and red tape slow expansion.
- China may withhold Sutlej and Brahmaputra data; the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh (expiring 2026) and ties with Nepal and Sri Lanka could suffer.
Exam angle
- Termination clause: Article XII(4); decision body: Cabinet Committee on Security.
- Western rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab.