'bearing The Burden For 65 Years Without Any Benefits': Brahma Chellaney On Suspension Of Indus Waters Treaty After Pahalgam

Strategic affairs master Brahma Chellaney precocious took to X (formerly Twitter) to stock his return connected nan suspension of nan Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) pinch Pakistan. 

His return came aft nan Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee connected Security (CCS) suspended nan Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) pursuing nan Pahalgam onslaught that claimed nan lives of 26 civilians. 

Chellaney said that India has been base nan load of nan IWT for 65 years without immoderate benefits to itself.

"India has been base nan burdens of nan Indus Waters Treaty for 65 years without immoderate benefits accruing to it from what remains nan world's astir generous water-sharing pact. Now, it decided to clasp nan bilateral pact successful abeyance until Pakistan ends its cross-border terrorism," he said successful his post. 

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed betwixt India and Pakistan successful 1960 and brokered by nan World Bank. As per this treaty, nan eastbound rivers of nan Indus River System -- Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej -- are allocated to India. 

The occidental rivers -- Jhelum and Chenab -- person been allocated to Pakistan. While India received authorities complete 20 per cent of nan system's h2o -- astir 41 cardinal cubic metres annually, Pakistan received 80 per cent aliases 99 cardinal cubic metres.

The suspension of IWT is devastating for Pakistan since it relies connected nan Indus stream and its tributaries for astir 80 per cent of its irrigated agriculture. Agriculture contributes astir 21 per cent to Pakistan's GDP and supports 45 per cent of nan country's workforce. 

The suspension of nan pact could halt nan travel of 39 cardinal cubic metres of h2o annually from India to Pakistan, successful turn, disrupting nan country's agriculture-based industries specified arsenic textiles, sugar, and atom milling. 

It could besides lead to h2o shortage crossed parts of Pakistan since awesome municipality centres (Karachi, Lahore, and Multan) tie their h2o straight from these rivers. Food accumulation could illness and powerfulness procreation would beryllium stopped. 

Published on: Apr 24, 2025 8:27 AM IST