The Diplomat Warns India: Suspending Indus Water Treaty Could Backfire
International affairs magazine The Diplomat has cautioned that India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) might have serious consequences for New Delhi.
The report highlights that if India disrupts the treaty, China may respond by limiting the flow of Brahmaputra River water—a vital source that provides about 30% of India’s freshwater and supports up to 44% of its hydropower capacity.
China is already building several large dams on the Brahmaputra, the magazine noted. Such actions, combined with India’s tough stance on the Indus Treaty, could escalate tensions over water resources in the region.
The Diplomat’s warning points to the risk that politicizing water-sharing agreements could increase instability, especially with major countries like China involved.
Background on Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty allows Pakistan to use the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. These rivers carry huge volumes of water—tens of billions of cubic meters—during the months from May to September when the ice melts and river flow increases.
While India has built some upstream projects on these rivers, none are large enough to stop the water flow that Pakistan receives under the treaty.
