In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, India’s recent move to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on hold has not been officially conveyed to the World Bank (WB), it has been confirmed by sources privy to the development. The World Bank has traditionally acted as a third-party guarantor and facilitator in the execution and interpretation of the 1960 treaty, which was signed between India and Pakistan under its aegis.
On April 24, 2025, Debashree Mukherjee, the Ministry of Water Resources Secretary, issued an official notification to her Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza, announcing that India would be putting the treaty “in abeyance with immediate effect.” The missive also indicated that India would no longer provide periodic hydrological information regarding the Indus rivers to Pakistan, nor would it notify Islamabad of new infrastructure projects, like hydroelectric plants, along the Western Rivers, i.e., the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
This move automatically suspends a key aspect of Indo-Pak diplomatic interaction and is bound to have far-reaching political and ecological implications throughout South Asia. Nevertheless, the World Bank, that has traditionally functioned as the custodian of the treaty implementing framework, found itself unprepared.
Role of the World Bank in the IWT
The Indus Waters Treaty, negotiated by the World Bank in 1960 following almost ten years of diplomatic efforts, is generally considered one of the most successful water-sharing treaties in the history of human diplomacy. It has survived numerous wars and repeated political tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. According to the agreement, India was assigned the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) and Pakistan got rights over the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab).
The World Bank’s function is essentially to provide a platform for resolving disputes through a multi-level process with Neutral Experts and the Permanent Indus Commission, and in extreme circumstances, the establishment of a Court of Arbitration. Regardless of the ebbs and flows in India-Pakistan relations, the treaty has been a bedrock of water diplomacy in the region.
Communication Breakdown
India’s unilateral action of putting the treaty on hold is unprecedented. People at the World Bank informed The Hindu that they had received no formal communication from the Indian government as yet. “So far, the World Bank has not been given formal notice,” a senior official responded, anonymously.
Experts think that this failure to communicate may lead to legal uncertainties and procedural confusion, particularly if Pakistan were to officially bring the matter before international forums or request a third-party intervention. “This action potentially undermines the legal framework of the treaty,” said Professor Shahid Amin, an expert on international relations. “The failure to communicate with the World Bank is particularly surprising in light of the historical context.”
Implications for Pakistan
For Pakistan, the move by India is alarming as well as significant. Availability of hydrological information from the upstream country has assisted Pakistan in regulating its irrigation, flood forecasting, as well as dam operation systems. Without such information, Islamabad will be left with considerable challenges in regulating water flow, particularly during flood and monsoon seasons.
Furthermore, Pakistan has repeatedly protested Indian hydroelectric schemes on the Western Rivers, apprehending that such development might enable India to control river flows and produce water shortages downstream. India has persistently rejected these allegations, claiming that all projects adhere to treaty standards and are solely for run-of-the-river power generation.
Now, without advance notifications and data exchange, it would be more difficult for Pakistan to raise timely objections or examine possible infringements of the terms of the treaty.
India’s Stated Rationale
Though there has been no official public announcement by the Indian government explaining the reason, officials in the Ministry of External Affairs have indicated that the move is a reaction to what New Delhi sees as Pakistan’s consistent abuse of the treaty for political purposes.
“Pakistan has had persistent delays and obstructionist behavior, such as excessive recourse to international arbitration and unwillingness to reciprocate confidence-building steps,” said one Indian official well-versed in the developments. “This standstill is a warning that India will no longer pursue business as usual.”
India has also mentioned national security interests and the need to have more control over its water resources in the face of climate stress and growing domestic demand as grounds to reassess the treaty.
International Reactions and Legal Dimensions
Even though the global community has not made any official reaction to India’s move, alarm about the consequences is increasing. Experts say maintaining a treaty in suspension — but short of withdrawal — is a questionable area in international law. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties has provisions for suspension under specified conditions, like material breach or agreement between parties, but unilateral suspension without informing involved parties and mediators is an exception.
“India’s move, unless reversed or clarified legally, could be seen as a breach of the letter, if not the spirit, of the treaty,” said Dr. Meher Alam, international law scholar.
India’s move to suspend important elements of the Indus Waters Treaty is a dramatic departure from five decades of water-sharing diplomacy with Pakistan. The action, unsupported by formal notice to the World Bank, casts heavy doubts on the future of the treaty and regional water security. With climate change and population growth fueling increasing water stress in South Asia, the collapse of one of the world’s more resilient transboundary water-sharing mechanisms could be a worrisome precedent.
The next few weeks will probably witness high-level diplomatic activity, legal arguments, and even possibly international arbitration attempts as all parties weigh the way ahead. For the time being, the Indus Waters Treaty — which was once a beacon of strength in the face of political animosity — is in uncharted waters.
