What is Indus Waters Treaty suspended by India over Pahalgam attacks?

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank and signed on 19 September 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Field Marshal Ayub Khan. It governs the use of the waters from the Indus River system, which flows through both countries.

Also Read: BIG BREAKING: India halts Indus Water Treaty engagements, shuts Attari Checkpost after Pahalgam Terror Attack

Under the treaty:

• India was given exclusive control over the Eastern Rivers – Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej – with a total mean annual flow of around 41 billion cubic meters.
• Pakistan received control over the Western Rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – with a total mean annual flow of about 99 billion cubic meters.
• India is allowed limited use of the Western Rivers for irrigation and unlimited non-consumptive uses like hydropower, navigation, and fisheries, but must follow specific regulations for constructing projects.

The treaty has helped prevent water wars between the two nations, even during times of heightened conflict. It was widely seen as a model for peaceful water sharing.

However, today, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam Massacre in Kashmir, where The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba-affiliated terrorist group, attacked tourists in Baisaran. This suspension marks a significant shift in Indo-Pak relations regarding water sharing.