The Indus Waters Treaty Was Never About Water

'Our Water Rights Are Non-Negotiable' Indus Waters Treaty Row Escalates, Pakistan Army Reacts to India's Decision, Has Pak Forgotten Op Sindoor?

The decades-old dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty has entered a fresh phase after tensions between India and Pakistan intensified.  Indus Waters Treaty Dispute Takes Centre Stage Signed in 1960 with the support of the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty governs the distribution of six major rivers between India and Pakistan. Under the agreement, India received control over the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, while Pakistan received rig…

The Indus Waters Treaty Was Never About Water

By Dimitra Staikou When India placed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance following the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, much of the international commentary portrayed the decision as the weaponisation of water. That interpretation, however, mistakes the consequence for the cause. The Indus Waters Treaty was never merely a legal instrument allocating the waters of six rivers between two nuclear-armed neighbours. It was an ambiti…