Indus Waters Treaty faces uncertain future amid India's security concerns
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, may not remain operational in its current form, a senior Indian official said on Monday (July 20, 2026). The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the treaty requires review and renegotiation due to changed circumstances, including Pakistan's alleged support for cross-border terrorism.
The official confirmed that India had placed the treaty in 'abeyance' after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, and that Pakistan's continued sponsorship of terrorists has prompted India to reassess its participation. 'The Indus Waters Treaty in its present form will not function again. If provisions related to river water sharing have to be reactivated, they have to be done in a different form,' the official said.
India argues that Pakistan's support for terrorism constitutes a breach of the treaty's preamble, which was concluded on grounds of goodwill. 'Pakistan has hurt those grounds beyond recognition. As a sovereign state, I cannot be compelled to stay in a treaty that goes against my interest,' the official added, though noting that India has not yet decided to terminate the treaty.
The official also criticized Pakistan for not building any water storage facilities over the past 76 years, stating that nearly 50% of the water flow Pakistan receives under the treaty flows into the ocean. He dismissed suggestions that India's stance might set a precedent for China's dam projects on the Brahmaputra River, emphasizing that India and China do not have a similar treaty.
India and China maintain an expert-level mechanism on trans-boundary rivers, under which China is required to provide data. However, the official noted that India's experience with China on river management has not been entirely positive, but stressed the two situations are not comparable due to the existence of the Indus Waters Treaty.
On the domestic front, the official highlighted ongoing hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including Sawalkote, Pakal Dul, Ratle, Kiru, Kwar, and Dulhasti. These projects are expected to be commissioned progressively over the next five years, generating approximately 5,300 megawatts of electricity, with Kiru and Pakal Dul anticipated to be commissioned later this year.
