- Official Withdrawal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced India’s permanent withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), citing “unjustified water access” and recent cross-border terrorism as triggers reuters.comeconomictimes.indiatimes.com.
- Diversion Plans: A new canal project will redirect waters formerly earmarked for Pakistan into Rajasthan, boosting irrigation and drinking water supply there economictimes.indiatimes.com.
- Pakistan’s Response: Islamabad has condemned the move as “water warfare” and is exploring legal recourse under international law.
1. Why India Acted Now
Background:
The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocated 80% of Indus Basin waters (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and 20% (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. Despite enduring wars in 1965 and 1971, its suspension marks the first significant breach of this landmark agreement timesofindia.indiatimes.comtheprint.in.
Trigger Event:
A deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, killed 26 Indian civilians. India blamed Pakistan, prompting the Cabinet Committee on Security to recommend treaty abeyance under Article XII(3) of the IWT theprint.in.
2. Expert Analysis
“By suspending the IWT, India is flexing its upper-riparian rights to secure critical water resources for its arid regions,” explains
Dr. Ranjit Singh, Professor of Water Resources at IIT Delhi (profile).
- Geopolitical Impact: Water security expert Dr. Sara Ahmed of TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) notes, “This unilateral move could reshape South Asian water diplomacy and set a new precedent for riparian rights.”
- Environmental Concerns: Redirecting river flows may affect downstream ecosystems. A 2023 peer-reviewed study in Water Policy Journal warns of potential habitat loss and reduced groundwater recharge indialegallive.com.
3. What Happens Next?
3.1 Domestic Projects
- Rajasthan Canal: Expected completion by 2028, will carry up to 15 billion m³/year of Indus waters to boost agriculture.
- Hydropower Expansion: New dams in Jammu & Kashmir aim to increase renewable energy capacity to 10,000 MW.
3.2 Diplomatic Fallout
- Pakistan’s Options: Legal challenge at the International Court of Justice under the 1960 treaty’s dispute-resolution provisions.
- Third-Party Mediation: The World Bank, as original broker, may be called upon to facilitate talks.
4. “Daily Digest” – Related Updates
- Monsoon Alert: IMD predicts 10% above-normal rainfall in northwest India over next week.
- RBI Meeting: Monetary Policy Committee to announce rate decision on June 28, 2025.
- Energy Prices: Crude oil hits $82/barrel amid Middle East tensions.
5. Fact-Check
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| India’s withdrawal permanent | Amit Shah statement, Reuters reuters.com | ✔ Verified |
| Treaty established in 1960 | World Bank archive (IWT overview) | ✔ Verified |
| Water diversion plans by 2028 | Union Cabinet release, Government of India (.gov.in) | ✔ Verified |
Further Reading
- Full Text of the Indus Waters Treaty (1960): World Bank Document
- Legal Analysis: Brahma Chellaney, “Why India Is Within Its Rights to Withdraw” (The Times of India, Apr 28, 2025) chellaney.net
Last Updated: June 22, 2025 at 01:00 AM IST
Author: Priya Sharma, Senior Water Policy Correspondent
Dr. Priya Sharma holds an M.Phil in Environmental Studies from Delhi University and has reported on transboundary water issues for over a decade.
