Future of river-sharing treaty that has survived wars, border conflicts and prolonged diplomatic freezes in the past is now under threat

Stuti Mishra Asia Climate Correspondent
Tuesday 30 June 2026 12:00 BST

Tensions between India and Pakistan over the “suspended” Indus Water Treaty escalated this week, as Islamabad hosted a daylong international conference on the agreement's legal status and one of its ministers threatened to "cut off" the hands of anyone who interferes with the country's water supply.

Pakistan's climate change minister Musadik Malik told a press conference on Monday that India was “controlling” Pakistan's share of water from the river network that the two countries share.

India and Pakistan have been engaged in a heated diplomatic standoff for well over a year, with tensions spilling over into a brief four-day conflict in May 2025. The episode began with a terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 people, with India blaming Pakistan for harbouring the militants responsible. Pakistan said it had no involvement in the attack.

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What is the Indus Water Treaty?
The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, divided the six rivers of the Indus basin between the two countries. The three western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, Chenab – went to Pakistan and the three eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas, Sutlej – to India. It allowed India, limited use of the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower generation, but prohibited it from altering their flows in a way that could harm Pakistan’s access.

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