Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) Review
Current Status and Issues
The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960, is under scrutiny for requiring a review and renegotiation. Key reasons include:
- Pakistan's continued support for cross-border terrorism, which India cites as a breach of the treaty's goodwill basis.
- Climate change impacts reducing water volumes in the eastern rivers of the Indus system.
- Lack of water storage infrastructure in Pakistan, leading to wastage as nearly 50% of water received under the treaty flows into the ocean.
India's Position
India has placed the treaty in abeyance following a terror attack in Pahalgam, April 2025, due to Pakistan's unchanged stance on terrorism sponsorship. India asserts:
- It cannot be compelled to remain in a treaty that compromises its interests.
- Theoretically has the right to terminate the treaty, although no decision to do so has been made yet.
Comparison with China
Concerns about China’s Brahmaputra dam project were addressed:
- India and China lack a treaty on the Brahmaputra, making the situations non-comparable.
- India and China maintain an expert-level mechanism on trans-boundary rivers for data exchange.
Future Developments
India is undertaking major electricity projects in the region, including:
- Sawalkote, Pakal Dul, Ratle, Kiru, Kwar, and Dulhasti projects.
- These projects are expected to generate approximately 5,300 megawatts of electricity over the next five years, with Kiru and Pakal Dul expected to be commissioned within the year.
