Pakistan PM warns India over alleged suspension of Indus Waters Treaty

Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, publicly charged India with “illegally suspending” the Indus Waters Treaty, a bilateral agreement that has governed the allocation of the Indus River system between the two nations since 1960. Sharif made the allegation during a press briefing on Monday, asserting that recent Indian measures—such as the unilateral diversion of water from the western rivers and the construction of new hydraulic projects—contravene the treaty’s provisions and jeopardize Pakistan’s water security.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, assigns the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) primarily to Pakistan and the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) to India, while allowing limited development on each side. India’s actions, according to Sharif, breach the treaty’s dispute‑resolution mechanisms and could trigger a diplomatic row. Pakistan has indicated it will seek recourse through the treaty’s arbitration process and has urged the international community to monitor compliance, emphasizing the critical role of the water agreement in regional stability.