India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has created tension between India and Pakistan. Pakistan has now written a letter to India, requesting it to reconsider the decision. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, manages the water sharing of rivers between the two countries. It is very important for Pakistan because millions of people there depend on this water for drinking and farming.

Pakistan’s water resources secretary, Syed Ali Murtaza, sent the appeal letter to India’s Jal Shakti secretary, Debashree Mukherjee. According to sources, the letter was delivered around the same time India carried out Operation Sindoor.

However, the language used by Pakistan in the letter was not soft. The letter called India’s decision “unilateral and illegal” and said it was “equivalent to an attack on the people of Pakistan and its economy”.

India’s cabinet committee on security decided on April 23 to put the treaty on hold. This decision came after a terror attack in Pahalgam in which several tourists were killed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clearly said in his national address, “Blood and water cannot flow together.” This strong statement shows India’s anger over the continuous terror attacks coming from Pakistan.

India rejects Pakistan's allegation, points to changed situation

India has said that its decision to suspend the treaty is not illegal. Sources in the government explained that the treaty allows a country to reconsider its commitments if the situation changes. They said the situation has now changed completely due to Pakistan’s use of terrorism.

A senior Indian government source said, “The treaty was negotiated in a spirit of goodwill and good neighbourliness. That is why we persisted with it despite the fact that it was flawed and loaded against India. However, Pakistan’s refusal to rein in the terrorists has knocked the very premise underpinning the treaty.”

India also mentioned other reasons like climate change and outdated infrastructure. These factors also give India a reason to relook at the treaty. “Change of circumstances” is a condition in the treaty which India believes has now been met.

Recently, India carried out flushing and desilting operations at two hydropower projects — Baglihar and Salal — on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. These actions disturbed the normal water flow downstream into Pakistan.

Now that the treaty is suspended, India is no longer required to share any data about water flow with Pakistan. This has caused problems in Pakistan ahead of the sowing season, as they are experiencing irregular water flow.

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