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🇮🇳 India /Elections & Politics

Indus Waters Treaty won’t work in present form as Pakistan backs terror: India

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan due to the latter's alleged support for terrorism and the killing of civilians.
  • India cited the need to renegotiate the treaty's provisions for sharing trans-boundary rivers due to climate change, demographic shifts, and technological advancements.
  • India indicated that any review of its decision to suspend the treaty is contingent on Pakistan ceasing its support for cross-border terrorism.

India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, citing the neighboring country's continued support for terrorism and the recent killing of civilians.

the treaty, in its present form, “will not function again”

— people familiar with the matterDescribing the future of the Indus Waters Treaty.

People familiar with the matter stated that the treaty, particularly its provisions for sharing cross-border rivers, will no longer function in its current form. They emphasized that the pact, signed in 1960, needs renegotiation to account for factors like climate change, demographic shifts, and advancements in hydrological technology since its inception.

The suspension followed the killing of 26 civilians in April 2025 by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). India retaliated by launching "Operation Sindoor" in May to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.

On the contrary, we continue to receive reports that proscribed groups and individuals sanctioned by the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee continue to appear at public events in Pakistan, and continue to have platforms to propagate their messages

— one of the peopleHighlighting Pakistan's alleged continued support for terrorism.

Officials indicated that there is no evidence of Pakistan taking steps to end its support for terrorism. They pointed to reports of UN-sanctioned groups and individuals appearing at public events in Pakistan and propagating their messages. Security agencies have also reported no credible steps taken by Pakistan to control terrorist activities across the Line of Control.

The evidence that our [security] agencies have, in terms of their activities just across the Line of Control, suggests no credible steps have been taken so far to control their activities

— heReferring to the lack of action against terrorist groups.

Before the suspension, India formally approached Pakistan four times since 2023 to renegotiate the treaty. Pakistan's response, however, was to suggest discussions at the level of Indus Waters Commissioners, while India insisted on government-level talks. Pakistan's actions, including efforts to block India's water management projects, have eroded the "spirit of goodwill and friendship" that underpinned the treaty.

The lopsided arrangement agreed to by New Delhi, whereby India agreed to give an 81% share of the river wate

— the peoplePointing to an imbalance in the treaty's water-sharing provisions.
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Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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