ISLAMABAD: India on Wednesday suspended a six-decade-old river-sharing treaty with Pakistan as part of a raft of measures following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that it says Islamabad is behind.
Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack, in which gunmen killed 26 men at a tourist site in Pahalgam, a scenic town in the Anantnag district, on Tuesday in the worst assault on civilians in the country in nearly two decades.
On Thursday, Pakistan said any attempts by India to stop or divert its waters under the Indus Waters Treaty would be seen as an “act of war.”
“Water is a vital national interest of Pakistan, a lifeline for its 240 million people and its availability will be safeguarded at all costs,” said a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s office after he chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee.
“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War and responded with full force across the complete spectrum of National Power.”
HISTORY
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the six Indus Basin rivers between India and Pakistan, with the Bank acting as its guarantor.
The treaty took effect on April 1, 1960, and was officially signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi by Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan and India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Pakistan has rights to the western rivers— Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab— for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower. India controls the eastern rivers— Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej— for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow.
India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes. Experts, like Hassaan F. Khan from Tufts University, argue that India lacks the infrastructure to divert large amounts of Indus waters.
The treaty also created a permanent Indus Commission and a dispute resolution framework, and despite wars and decades of tensions between Pakistan and India, it remains one of the world’s most resilient water-sharing agreements.
There is no provision in the treaty for either country to unilaterally suspend or terminate the pact, which has clear dispute resolution systems.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OVER WATER?
The nuclear-armed neighbors have argued over and disputed several projects on the Indus and its tributaries in India for years.
Pakistan is heavily dependent on water from this river system for its hydropower, irrigation and drinking needs. Pakistan says India unfairly diverts water with the upstream construction of barrages and dams, a charge India denies.
If the treaty is suspended, Pakistan is concerned India’s dams will cut flows on the river, which feeds 80 percent of its irrigated agriculture. Pakistan fears that India may limit or divert water flows especially during dry seasons, potentially harming crops, reducing food production, and increasing water scarcity in vulnerable areas.
Islamabad has asked for a neutral expert and then an arbitration court to intervene in two recent hydropower projects.
India has accused Pakistan of dragging out the complaints process and says the construction of its Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects is allowed under the treaty. It has also sought modification of the pact to get around such delays.
The suspension also raises tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors and puts pressure on Pakistan to seek international support or explore legal, diplomatic, or military recourse. It also adds further uncertainty to the region, turning water into another flashpoint in an already fragile relationship.
WHAT COULD THE SUSPENSION CHANGE?
The suspension of the accord is not expected to have an immediate impact on the flow of water to Pakistan as India does not have enough storage capacity.
But India’s move could bring uncertainty for Pakistan’s agricultural system.
The suspension means India can stop sharing crucial information and data on release of water from barrages/dams or on flooding, Indian officials said, adding that New Delhi will also not be obliged to release minimum amounts of water during the lean season.
With inputs from Reuters
