In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960, rightly accusing Pakistan of backing cross-border terrorism.
The landmark decision came after a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with senior leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah in attendance.
This isn’t just diplomacy—it’s deterrence with a dam.
Why It Matters to You
India’s move to freeze the IWT could affect water supply to Pakistan’s major rivers, especially the Chenab, which flows through Punjab and is vital to Pakistan’s agriculture.
Already, satellite images shared by Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan on social media show visible drying of the Chenab River near Sialkot. “Pani chahiye, pani?” he quipped, twisting the knife with a meme-ready jab.
For everyday Indians, this isn’t just a foreign policy win—it’s a long-awaited answer to a decades-old grievance.
Water, once used to fuel Pakistani farmlands, may now flow into India’s own parched fields, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, which has long felt short-changed by the original treaty.
A Treaty Long Considered “Unfair” in J&K
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah weighed in, calling the treaty “the most unfair document” for the people of the Union Territory. “We have never been in favour of the Indus Water Treaty,” he told reporters.
Omar Abdullah Trolls Nehru Again🔥
“Indus Water Treaty has already cost J&K a lot. If the suspension of this treaty benefits J&K, I would be the first to say that it is a good step.”
Who all must have been hurt with this Statement? pic.twitter.com/m2oqZkOPjL
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) April 26, 2025
According to Abdullah, the treaty disproportionately benefitted Pakistan while limiting J&K’s access to its own rivers. The Centre’s action, he noted, was “long overdue.”
And he’s not alone. Many in North India have for years questioned why a terror-exporting neighbor should enjoy generous water rights, especially when our own people suffer droughts.
What Is the Indus Waters Treaty?
Signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty divided the rivers of the Indus system between the two nations. India got control of the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan was allocated the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
The catch? India was still required to let a significant flow reach Pakistan, effectively binding India’s hands even during times of heightened tensions or terror attacks.
Now, India is changing the rules of the game.
India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty is drying up the Chenab River near Sialkot in Pakistan. Pani chahiye, pani?#IndiaPakistanWar pic.twitter.com/s3mO2o7r3I
— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) April 30, 2025
A Strategic Shift, Not Just Symbolic
The suspension of the treaty isn’t permanent—yet. It will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly halts terrorism and shuts down the Attari Check Post, a critical trade route allegedly exploited for covert activities. This bold linkage of terror to water sends a message: India won’t nourish those who bleed us.
For Pakistan, already battling an economic crisis, this move hits where it hurts. Water is life. And for a nation whose agricultural base depends heavily on Indus waters, the stakes are now existential.
But this time, India seems less concerned about global applause and more focused on national security.
Final Word: A Message in the Flow
This isn’t just about dams and rivers. It’s about sovereignty, security, and justice. With the Pahalgam attack fresh in memory, India has sent a message: Terror won’t be rewarded with treaties, and patience has a limit.
Water doesn’t forget. And neither do we.
Also Read India Just Sent a Message with One Bold Move—And It Starts with the Pakistan Visa.
