Pakistan’s Strong Response to India’s Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty

In April 2025, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a key agreement signed in 1960 under World Bank mediation, which governs the shared use of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. India’s decision followed a terrorist attack in Kashmir, with claims that the perpetrators had links across the border. The move was seen as part of India’s broader political response to the attack, prompting a sharp and multi-pronged reaction from Pakistan.

1. Diplomatic Retaliation and Airspace Closure

Pakistan responded with immediate diplomatic countermeasures. It closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, disrupting international travel routes and asserting its protest (Reuters).

Additionally, Pakistan suspended all trade with India, including routes that passed through third countries (Hindustan Times). Visas were revoked, and diplomatic staff were reduced in Islamabad and New Delhi (Washington Times). These retaliatory actions marked a steep escalation in bilateral tensions.

2. Legal and Institutional Response

Pakistan’s National Security Committee issued a bold statement declaring that any unilateral diversion of water by India would be treated as an act of war, underscoring the treaty’s strategic importance (Al Jazeera).

Simultaneously, the Foreign Office of Pakistan accused India of "weaponizing water" and claimed that India’s actions violated a binding international accord (Times of India).

3. Boosting Water Infrastructure

Fearing water insecurity, Pakistan doubled down on large-scale infrastructure:

• The Diamer-Bhasha Dam, a long-pending mega-dam project in Gilgit-Baltistan, is now being fast-tracked. It aims to store over 8 million acre-feet of water and generate 4,500 MW of electricity (Wikipedia).

• Funding was secured through public and institutional support, including the Supreme Court–backed dam fund (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan).

These moves aim to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on water flowing from Indian-administered areas.

4. International Engagement

Pakistan took the matter to the international community, emphasizing that India’s actions could destabilize an already tense region.

• Appeals were made to the World Bank, the original broker and a de facto guarantor of the IWT, requesting intervention and dispute resolution.

• Pakistani diplomats raised the issue at United Nations forums and other international bodies, calling India’s move a potential trigger for environmental and humanitarian crises.

Though these developments haven't yet shifted the status quo, they serve to internationalize the crisis and gain diplomatic leverage.

5. Public Reaction and Civil Society Mobilization

The IWT suspension triggered intense public reaction in Pakistan. Mainstream news and political talk shows framed the move as a national security emergency, and many saw it as an existential threat to Pakistan’s agriculture and ecology.

Civil society organizations and academic institutions organized seminars and awareness campaigns focused on water rights and sustainable planning. The treaty, once obscure to the public, has become a symbol of national sovereignty.

Conclusion

India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has led to a robust, multi-level response from Pakistan—including diplomaticretaliation, legal warnings, infrastructure acceleration, and international advocacy. With water security now emerging as a flashpoint, both nations are navigating a dangerous escalation. Only time will tell whether mediation or militarization will define the next phase of this historic rivalry.