In a significant move, India has announced the suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which has governed the sharing of the waters of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers between India and Pakistan for over six decades. These rivers, which originate in India, have been crucial for Pakistan’s agriculture and domestic water supply. The decision comes amidst growing tensions between the two nations, and India’s government claims it is in response to Pakistan’s persistent violations of the treaty’s provisions. With India halting the flow of water to Pakistan, the nation faces the grim prospect of severe water shortages, threatening the livelihoods of millions who rely on these vital resources.
The Indus River system, which includes key tributaries like the Chenab and Jhelum, has been a lifeline for Pakistan’s agricultural and economic sectors. With India controlling the upper riparian territories of these rivers, Pakistan has always depended on the treaty to secure its water supply. The suspension is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the country, with experts warning that large swathes of Pakistan, particularly its agricultural heartlands, could face desertification, exacerbating the region’s already dire water scarcity crisis. As the tension escalates, the move marks a dramatic shift in the geopolitics of South Asia, with both nations now facing an uncertain future over shared water resources.