ISLAMABAD: A U.S.-based policy magazine has cautioned that any move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty would heighten regional tensions in South Asia and risk turning water into a strategic tool, according to its latest analysis.
The assessment was published by The National Interest, which said unilateral actions affecting the decades-old treaty could destabilize the region, noting that water security remains a critical issue for millions of people across South Asia.
According to the analysis, India’s development of hydropower projects on western rivers has raised concerns about compliance with treaty provisions, while restrictions on sharing hydrological data could violate established international norms.
The magazine noted that international arbitration mechanisms have previously clarified that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally, emphasizing the treaty’s role in ensuring regional stability and food security.
It added that the agreement places legal obligations on upstream states to ensure downstream water availability, warning that attempts to politicize water resources could set a dangerous precedent under international law.
The publication further cautioned that growing water stress, if compounded by political decisions, could pose broader humanitarian risks in the region.
