Pahalgam attack leads India to suspension of Indus Water Treaty

Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the Indian Government has chosen to delay the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, as decided in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Wednesday. What exactly is the Indus Water Treaty? The Indus river is considered vital to Pakistan's survival. If India controls the water flow of the Indus river and its tributaries, Pakistan could potentially experience a water shortage.

The Indus River and its tributaries supply water to over 210 million people. In September 1960, Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani Military General Ayub Khan signed the Indus Water Treaty in Karachi. As per the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), signed 62 years ago, India receives approximately 19.5 percent of the water from the Indus and its tributaries, while Pakistan receives 80 percent. In 1960, the Indus Valley was divided into six rivers, leading to the signing of this agreement between India and Pakistan.

According to this agreement, India and Pakistan must convene the Indus Water Commission annually. The Indus Treaty outlines the distribution of water from the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries. For the first time in 62 years, India has issued a notice to Pakistan to revise the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The agreement grants India rights over the eastern rivers, while the western rivers are allocated to Pakistan. The World Bank facilitated the agreement.

India's 5 big decisions against Pakistan

The CCS meeting at the Prime Minister's residence was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and NSA Ajit Doval. During the meeting, five significant decisions were made regarding Pakistan.

1. Attari border shut

2. Indus Waters Treaty suspended

3. Indian High Commission in Pakistan shut down

4. Pakistani officials to leave Delhi within a week, High Commission closed

5. Pakistani citizens barred from entering India, must leave India within 48 hours