India Pauses Indus Waters Treaty, Accuses Pakistan of Wasting Water After Pahalgam Attack
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· India's bilateral relations· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
India has paused the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as of April 2025, citing Pakistan's failure to curb cross-border terrorism following a fatal attack in Pahalgam.
Background
India officially suspended IWT obligations in April 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. India alleges Pakistan wastes significant runoff and lacks major storage facilities despite claiming water scarcity.
Facts for Prelims
- Intl. orgIndus Waters Treaty (IWT): Signed in 1960 between India, Pakistan, and China.
- FactPahalgam attack: Resulted in the death of 26 tourists in April 2025.
- PlacePahalgam: A tourist destination located in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
For Mains
Q. Examine how the nexus between cross-border terrorism and water diplomacy complicates India's strategic autonomy in managing transboundary river systems.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Asymmetry in Treaty: Lack of mandatory water-use efficiency clauses for downstream riparian states.
- Security-Water Linkage: Use of water cooperation as a lever against state-sponsored terrorism.
- Infrastructure Gap: Disparity in storage capacity and runoff management between riparian neighbors.
Keywords: Transboundary Water Diplomacy · Strategic Autonomy · Riparian Rights · Asymmetrical Treaties · Security-Development Nexus
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.