The Indus Waters Treaty at Crossroads: Implications for Regional Peace & the Path Forward

Feb 20, 2026 | Mohammad Ishaq Rahman
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The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 stands as one of the most significant achievements in transboundary water cooperation globally. Brokered by the World Bank after nearly a decade of negotiations between India and Pakistan, this instrument has survived three wars, numerous military standoffs, and decades of political hostility between the two South Asian neighbours. Yet, in April 2025, India's unilateral decision to hold the treaty "in abeyance" following the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir has cast an unprecedented shadow over this foundational agreement.