The waters of the Indus River and its tributaries have long represented a strategic vulnerability for Pakistan. In the wake of the heinous attack on civilian tourists in Pahalgam, the decision by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to withdraw from the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is both timely and appropriate.
The IWT, signed in 1960 after six years of negotiations under the aegis of the United Nations, divided the waters of six Himalayan rivers—namely the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas—in a 30:70 ratio between India and Pakistan.
India’s decision at the time was an act of magnanimity; few nations would willingly share such a significant strategic resource—freshwater—with a hostile neighbour. Unfortunately, Pakistan has not shown gratitude for this gesture. Instead, it has treated the arrangement as an entitlement while simultaneously nurturing terrorism on Indian soil. The CCS’s decision, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, aims to send an unequivocal message to Pakistan: such belligerence will no longer be tolerated.
India’s withdrawal from the IWT has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, particularly among its agrarian communities, who now face the grim possibility of a famine-like situation in the coming months. However, while this move seeks to punish an adversary, it also presents a unique opportunity for India to secure and optimize its water resources.
Under the treaty, the six rivers were categorised into Eastern (Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas) and Western (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) rivers. India’s current 30% share provides it with 33 million acre-feet (MAF) of water, while Pakistan receives 135 MAF (equivalent to approximately 165 billion cubic meters, or BCM). If India halts the flow of this water within its territory, it can be utilized in multiple ways to strengthen national infrastructure and reduce dependence on the volatile southwest monsoon.
Firstly, this surplus water can be employed to establish mini and micro hydropower projects in the mountainous regions, thereby boosting power generation in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. Secondly, the Eastern rivers can be linked with other rivers in the plains—especially those that face water scarcity during the winter months—through an expansive canal network. This interlinking would greatly benefit monsoon-dependent states and water-deficient regions alike, significantly improving agricultural productivity.
India’s growing population, urbanisation, and industrialisation are placing immense pressure on freshwater resources, which are already facing depletion and degradation. Water security is critical for India’s social and economic development, particularly as the nation supports 17% of the world’s population. The National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development estimates that irrigation water requirements will rise from 611 BCM in 2025 to 807 BCM by 2050. Groundwater alone can only contribute about 217.61 BCM, making river and canal resources essential. The availability of 164 BCM from the Indus system would considerably reduce the country’s reliance on monsoons.
To effectively utilise the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, India could explore the construction of long canal systems such as the proposed Jhelum–Yamuna and Chenab–Ganga link canals. Historical precedents for such massive water-management projects exist worldwide. For instance, China’s Grand Canal—constructed during the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century—extends 1,776 kilometres and links five major rivers, connecting Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south. The Karakum Canal in Turkmenistan, an irrigation canal stretching 1,445 kilometres, carries water from the Amu Darya River across the Karakum Desert to Ashgabat. Closer to home, India’s own Indira Gandhi Canal, which begins at Harike near the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas, provides irrigation to the Thar Desert over approximately 788 kilometres.
While the government likely has various plans to utilise this water effectively, a coordinated and strategic approach is essential. A comprehensive network of canals, supported by hydropower installations, could transform Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh into power-surplus regions and offer vital relief to farmers in Central India, Rajasthan, and southern states.
The time to act is now. With proper planning and infrastructure development, India can reap the benefits of these measures over the next two decades, ensuring long-term water and energy security for the nation.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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