Description
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960, has long been upheld as a rare example of resilient hydro-diplomacy between India and Pakistan. This treaty endured multiple wars and ongoing hostilities while ensuring regulated water sharing between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. However, India’s recent invocation of Article XII(3) for treaty modification, and subsequent suspension of the treaty following a 2025 terror attack, marks a strategic shift.
This paper critically examines the legal, geopolitical, and environmental dimensions of IWT. It will examine its origins, structural inequities, Kashmir’s grievances, and the feasibility of abrogation, renegotiation, or maximised utilisation within the treaty’s provisions. It also incorporates comparative analyses from other international water treaties to explore possible reforms. It is grounded in theories of hydro-nationalism and principles of international river law, the paper underscores the need of recalibrating IWT in light of climate change, national security, and domestic water needs.
The study proposes a pragmatic, future-ready framework to reform the IWT, while highlighting the need for broader South Asian water cooperation. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, drawing primarily from secondary data, including government reports, academic literature, and unedited archives, to map the diplomatic endurance and future viability of IWT.
Keywords:- Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 1960, India–Pakistan Hydro-diplomacy, Kashmir Water Grievances, Vienna Convention & Treaty Law, Climate Change & Indus Basin and Strategic Abeyance of IWT.
