India suspends Indus Waters Treaty over terrorism

India has placed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, conditioning any reconsideration on Pakistan 'credibly and irrevocably' ending cross-border terrorism. The decision, rooted in the India — Cabinet Committee on Security's April 2025 directive following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, reflects India's view that Pakistan's conduct has eroded the treaty's foundational goodwill. India asserts the treaty cannot function in its current form and that renegotiation would occur only after Pakistan abjures terrorism. Pakistan, which accuses India of 'weaponising water' and violating international law, has sought support at the UN and in other forums, but India maintains that Pakistan's water scarcity stems from domestic mismanagement, citing high downstream flows and reservoir levels. India plans to accelerate hydropower development in the Chenab River basin and will continue issuing flood warnings on humanitarian grounds. The treaty's institutional mechanisms, including the International — Indus Waters Treaty, remain inoperative.