Indus Waters Treaty: Preventing Water from Becoming a Weapon

This Insight by Dr Tughral Yamin examines the growing India-Pakistan water dispute and the implications of placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance by India. It explores the legal significance of the treaty, the humanitarian and economic risks of water insecurity, and the limits of India’s immediate capacity to control downstream flows. The analysis proposes a multi-layered Pakistani response based on international law, diplomacy, strategic resilience and water conservation. Importantly, it argues that the Indus Waters Treaty should be preserved and that the river must remain a source of life rather than become another battlefield.