Water, law & power: Illegal suspension of IWT

FOLLOWING the Pahalgam incident Indian unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT-1960) on April 2025, has generated serious legal, political and strategic concerns across South Asia. The move not only undermines a long-standing bilateral agreement but also raises important questions regarding international law, treaty obligations and regional stability. A close examination of the treaty reveals that there is no provision allowing either party to suspend, terminate, or withdraw from it unilaterally. The Indus Waters Treaty,…