Published on 13 Oct 2025
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which has survived four wars and decades of cross-border terrorism against India by Pakistan, was suspended (in abeyance) for the first time by New Delhi.
India made its decision a day after the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in which Pakistani terrorists took the lives of 26 people.
The IWT is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank and signed in Karachi (1960).
It provisioned that the waters of the “Eastern Rivers” of the Indus system namely the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi shall be available for the “unrestricted use” of India.
Pakistan shall receive water from the “Western Rivers” — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
The treaty does not provide for any such unilateral suspension but rather a multi-tiered system for dispute resolution.
Tier I - a Permanent Indus Commission with commissioners from both nations that meets yearly and does inspection every 5 years.
Tier II - when dispute arises regarding technicalities of the treaty, it is to be resolved by appointing a Neutral Expert.
Tier III - If the Neutral Expert fails to resolve the issue or if the dispute involves complex legal questions, the matter can be taken to the Court of Arbitration, which is a panel of independent legal experts appointed by both parties
Indus Waters Treaty Suspended
Indus Waters Treaty
IWT
Pakistan
Border dispute
cross-border terrorism
Pahalgam
Operation sindoor
Water sharing
Indus River
Permanent Indus Commission