What's Behind Pakistan's Growing Indus Treaty 'Threats' To India? Its Own Helplessness
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· India's bilateral relations· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, linking the treaty's continuity to Pakistan's dismantling of its jihadist-Islamist terror infrastructure.
Background
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) governs the sharing of three perennial rivers (Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum) between India and Pakistan. India's suspension is a strategic move to counter Pakistan's 'weaponizing water' rhetoric and leverage international pressure.
Facts for Prelims
- Intl. orgIndus Waters Treaty (IWT): Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, mediated by the World Bank.
- FactRivers under IWT: India has rights over the Western rivers (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum) while Pakistan has rights over the Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej).
- PlaceIndus River: Originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through India and Pakistan.
For Mains
Q. Examine how the weaponization of water resources and cross-border terrorism act as interconnected security threats to regional stability in South Asia.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Security-Water Nexus: Linking hydro-politics to non-state actor activities and cross-border terrorism.
- Diplomatic Leverage: India's shift from technical cooperation to security-linked conditionality in water sharing.
- Regional Instability: Potential for Chinese intervention in water diplomacy affecting the balance of power.
Keywords: Hydro-politics · Non-state actors · Strategic autonomy · Water security · Asymmetric warfare
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.