Indus Waters Treaty
Coverage of Indus Waters Treaty in the Nexus archive.
- Indus Waters Treaty will not remain operational in its present form, says official
India has placed the Indus Waters Treaty in 'abeyance' following the Pahalgam terror attack. The official stated there has been no change in Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorists since the suspension.
- Authorities going ‘extra mile’ in the absence of flood data
The Punjab government in Pakistan has directed high-alert flood preparations due to India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, forcing reliance on 'less credible sources' like social media for river flow data. Authorities plan to clear the Ravi riverbed of temporary encroachments and emphasized vigilance despite officials stating current river flows are normal.
- 'We will not give up Indus': PPP holds Sindh-wide rallies condemning India's threats to Pakistan's water share
The PPP staged Sindh-wide rallies condemning India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and its plans to divert Pakistani waters. The party emphasized protecting Pakistan's water rights under the IWT, with leaders like Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari advocating for global advocacy and public mobilization.
- Abeyance without proof
India's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance is criticized as legally invalid, as the treaty lacks a suspension clause and relies on disputed facts. The article highlights India's unproven allegations against Pakistan regarding the Pahalgam terrorist attack and cross-border terrorism, which Pakistan denies. It argues that such disputes fall outside the IWT's scope and should be addressed through other international forums.
- New AJK assembly to decide fate of refugee seats: PPP
PPP's Raja Pervez Ashraf stated the upcoming AJK assembly will decide refugee seats, a constitutional issue. He expressed confidence in the party's election victory and warned India against disrupting Pakistan's water share. PPP leadership, including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, emphasized political dialogue and democratic elections in AJK.
- Army top brass affirms commitment to take 'all measures necessary' to ensure availability of Pakistan’s water share
The Pakistani army's top leadership reaffirmed its commitment to securing Pakistan's water share under the Indus Waters Treaty amid Indian actions, condemned human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and emphasized countering hybrid warfare. The Corps Commanders' Conference also highlighted Pakistan's role in promoting regional dialogue and stability.
- COMMENT: Indus Waters Treaty at a strategic crossroads — Part I
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a 65-year-old agreement between India and Pakistan, is under threat as India unilaterally placed the treaty in abeyance in May 2025, violating its obligations. This action disrupts Pakistan’s water, food, and energy security by enabling India to accelerate upstream infrastructure projects and withholding critical hydrological data.
- Pak-India dialogue?
India's BJP government has maintained a 10-year disconnect with Pakistan, marked by three kinetic aggressions and halted bilateral ties. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was suspended in 2025, and ongoing tensions include unresolved issues like Kashmir and India's regional dominance. The article highlights the need for crisis management and communication channels to prevent escalation.
- Danger abounds as Lahore expands onto Ravi’s turf
Satellite imagery analysis shows Lahore's rapid urban expansion into the River Ravi's floodplain, increasing flood risks. Suparco warns that reduced floodplain capacity could lead to overtopping banks and infrastructure damage. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, now in abeyance since 2025, previously provided Pakistan with flood data from India.
- IWT will be in abeyance till Pakistan irrevocably stops sponsoring cross-border terrorism: Govt.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably stops sponsoring cross-border terrorism, according to the government. Pakistan organized a conference on the Indus and water sharing, where Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the IWT as vital for regional peace, stability, and cooperation.
- Re-reading the water treaty
Two senior officials from India and Pakistan, Dr. P.K. Saxena and Syed Mehar Ali Shah, debate the Indus Waters Treaty in a public exchange. Saxena accuses Pakistan of benefiting disproportionately from the treaty while India bears obligations, while Shah argues Pakistan's water allocation is a protected right and India's financial contribution was necessary for implementation.
- ‘Talks over hostility’
A civil society appeal urging Indian and Pakistani prime ministers to pursue peace has garnered over 100 signatories, including former diplomats and academics. The article criticizes India's reluctance to engage in dialogue, citing events like the 2019 revocation of Kashmir's status, the Pahalgam episode, and a 2025 armed conflict. It highlights tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty and allegations of India supporting terrorism in Pakistan.
- Pakistan accuses India of water ‘weaponisation’ over Indus treaty suspension
Pakistan accused India of 'weaponisation of water' over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning it could threaten regional peace and security. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and officials made the remarks at a seminar discussing the 1960 World Bank-brokered treaty governing water sharing between the two nations.
- Pakistan warns India against water weaponization at Indus Waters Treaty seminar
Pakistan warned India that depriving it of its water share under the Indus Waters Treaty would constitute 'weaponization of water' and threaten regional peace and security. The warning was issued during a seminar on the treaty.
- Indus Waters Treaty remains ‘valid, binding and operative’: Pakistan Deputy PM
Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar stated that the Indus Waters Treaty remains valid, binding, and operative. He warned that depriving Pakistan of its allocated waters would have profound consequences for regional peace and security.
- Pakistan's population has an inalienable right to water from the Indus, says info minister
Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserted that the country's 240 million people have an 'inalienable right' to water from the Indus River System, emphasizing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as a lifeline and a cornerstone of regional stability. He highlighted the treaty's historical significance and resilience amid tensions with India, stressing that Pakistan's civilian and military leadership will not allow unilateral amendments to the IWT.
- Federal ministers Tarar, Musadik address press conference in Islamabad
Federal ministers Attaullah Tarar and Musadik Malik are addressing a press conference in Islamabad. Tarar emphasized water security as a critical issue for Pakistan and announced a seminar to raise awareness about the country's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.
- Dams on Chenab — a target?
India is accelerating construction of multiple hydro projects on the Chenab River, including Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, Ratle, and Sawalkote, with tenders issued to firms like Afcon Infrastructure and Bharat Heavy Electricals. Legal debates question whether Pakistan could target these dams under international law if they are deemed military tools, citing India's water minister's statement denying water flow to Pakistan and the suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
- Winning the Indus lawfare
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan has withstood political tensions and conflicts, highlighting the principle of honoring international agreements. The dispute now involves 'lawfare,' where legal arguments are strategically used to shape global perceptions alongside diplomatic and media efforts. The article emphasizes that treaty obligations must endure beyond periods of friendship to maintain international legal order.
- Dar writes to UNSC president, highlights India's 'brazen violations' of Indus Waters Treaty
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar urged the UN Security Council to address India's alleged 'brazen violations' of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), citing two illegal infrastructure projects on the Chenab River that threaten Pakistan's water security and regional stability. The letter warns of India's attempts to alter the treaty-governed flow of western rivers, with implications for international peace.
- Pakistan assails 17 Indian water projects, calls them ‘tools for hydro-hegemony’
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar accused India of constructing at least 17 water projects to alter the Indus river system, labeling them as tools for 'hydro-hegemony'. He criticized India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and highlighted concerns over illegal actions including reservoir creation and river diversion projects.
- Pakistan will have to take a step towards development, says Bilawal as NA mulls budget FY27
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressed the National Assembly, linking regional peace to economic development and highlighting security challenges with Afghanistan and India. He emphasized constitutional measures to reallocate funds for national security and dismissed rumors about constitutional amendments.
- ‘Mediation for sake of regional stability, not narrow interests’
Pakistan's civilian and military leadership mediated to secure regional stability and peace among Muslim countries, according to a senior security official. The official highlighted efforts to prevent a major war between the US and Iran, and addressed India's violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, crediting Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saudi Arabia's leadership for averting conflict.
- The Indus Waters Treaty: Correcting the record, preserving the law
The article critiques P.K. Saxena's claims that the Indus Waters Treaty was unjust to India and defends the treaty as a necessary legal framework ensuring water certainty for Pakistan. It corrects historical context, stating the treaty emerged from the 1948 canal-water crisis to replace upstream discretion with legal obligations.
- A year on, stalemate persists
A year after the May 2025 conflict, India-Pakistan relations remain frozen with no progress in dialogue. Disputes over water and Kashmir persist, and India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, leading to heightened tensions. Speculation about renewed talks faded quickly, and bilateral relations remain at a historic low.
- South Asia’s water wars hinge as much on data as dams
India's placement of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance has shifted focus to the implications of reduced transparency in a major transboundary water-sharing agreement. The article questions the consequences of this lack of transparency for South Asia's water management.
- India ‘actively working’ to deprive Pakistan of water
India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, with Water Minister CR Patil stating the country is working to ensure 'not a single drop of water' flows to Pakistan. Pakistan has warned that any attempt to alter cross-border water flows would be considered an 'act of war,' citing the treaty's continued validity despite India's unilateral suspension.
- Occupied Kashmir will never be 'integral part of India': Islamabad slams New Delhi for 'misleading' UNSC
Pakistan and India exchanged accusations at the UNSC over the Kashmir dispute, with Pakistan criticizing India for 'misleading' the council and denying Kashmir's status as an integral part of India. India's envoy asserted Kashmir's inalienable part of India, while Pakistan highlighted human rights violations and called for self-determination for Kashmiri people.
- International court backs Pakistan's position on Indus Waters Treaty
An international court has ruled in favor of Pakistan regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, a significant agreement governing water sharing between Pakistan and India. The decision supports Pakistan's position on the interpretation and implementation of the treaty's provisions.