In a bold declaration that signals a strategic shift in India’s water diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India’s water resources, particularly those flowing through the Indus River system, will now be utilised entirely for the nation’s benefit. Speaking at the ‘India@2047 Summit’, Modi made a forceful statement aimed at Pakistan, asserting that the days of India sacrificing its rightful share of river waters under an “unequal treaty” were over.
“Bharat ke haq ka paani, Bharat ke haq mein bahega,” Modi proclaimed, declaring that water which legally and geographically belongs to India would now be harnessed to serve the country’s own development and agricultural needs. His remarks come amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists.
A Shift in the Waters: Reconsidering the Indus Water Treaty
The Prime Minister’s comments mark a clear deviation from the decades-long framework of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 under the World Bank’s aegis. The treaty, considered one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements globally, has withstood wars and political upheavals, allocating the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, with India permitted limited use of the latter.
Speaking at the ABP Network India@2047 Summit. @ABPNewshttps://t.co/p0GzjptHUk
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 6, 2025
However, successive Indian governments have often voiced concerns about the constraints the treaty imposes, particularly in light of Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border militancy. Prime Minister Modi’s declaration seems to crystallise long-held grievances into concrete policy action.
“For decades, India has allowed its waters to flow freely into Pakistan, despite the provocations and continued acts of terrorism emanating from across the border,” Modi said. “That imbalance is no longer sustainable or acceptable. India will now act in its own interests.”
Diplomatic Fallout and Strategic Response
In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government convened a high-level cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. As part of the decisions taken, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that India would downgrade diplomatic relations with Pakistan and suspend the IWT “until such time that Pakistan takes verifiable and irreversible steps to dismantle terror infrastructure on its soil.”
In line with these measures, India has begun to assert control over water flows through the western rivers. Officials confirmed that gates of the Baglihar and Salal dams on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir have been shut, significantly reducing downstream flows into Pakistan. This technical move—well within India’s rights under the treaty’s non-consumptive use clause—has already sent ripples across the border.
|Also Read : India Cuts All Trade and Maritime Links with Pakistan |
On Monday, Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA) expressed “deep apprehension” over the sudden drop in inflows at the Marala headworks, a key point on the Chenab River. Pakistani officials alleged that India’s actions threaten agricultural output in Punjab province and could have severe humanitarian and economic consequences.
The Bigger Picture: Water as a Strategic Lever
Water has historically been both a source of life and a cause of conflict. Modi alluded to this during his address, noting, “Rivers have often been causes of war, but India is working to transform them into channels of cooperation and development.” He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to interlinking rivers and enhancing water storage and irrigation systems to bolster India’s self-reliance and security.
Analysts see this as a watershed moment—punctuating India’s willingness to recalibrate diplomatic protocols in response to persistent threats. By wielding the IWT as a strategic lever, India is sending a signal that peace and cooperation cannot be one-sided.
International Reactions and the Road Ahead
The suspension of the treaty has drawn concern from global observers, with the World Bank urging restraint and dialogue. “The IWT has long been considered a model of transboundary water cooperation. We encourage both parties to engage constructively,” a spokesperson said.
However, Indian officials remain firm that the time for unilateral restraint has passed. “Water security is national security,” a senior MEA official stated. “Our decision is not aimed at the people of Pakistan, but at the forces that continue to threaten Indian lives with impunity.”
As India steers toward 2047—marking a century of independence—the government appears determined to ensure that every drop of water within its borders serves the nation’s development goals and strategic imperatives.
