Indus Treaty Abeyance Raises Water Security Concerns

Indus Treaty Abeyance Raises Water Security Concerns

India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance has raised renewed concerns over water security, agriculture and livelihoods in the Indus Basin.

The issue was discussed at a recent event in Geneva, where legal experts, researchers, diplomats and civil society representatives examined the impact of uncertainty surrounding the decades-old water-sharing agreement.

The treaty governs the sharing of waters from the Indus river system between India and Pakistan, making its continued uncertainty a significant issue for water management and regional cooperation.

The situation has also raised broader concerns about transboundary water governance, particularly regarding the stability of international agreements governing shared rivers.

Pakistan has maintained that the treaty remains legally binding, while the Permanent Court of Arbitration has stated that the agreement remains in force despite India’s decision to place it in abeyance.