Pakistan Writes Four Letters to India Urging Reconsideration of Indus Waters Treaty Suspension

Tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi have intensified after India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a historic water-sharing agreement signed in 1960 between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

India declared on April 23 that the treaty would be held in “abeyance,” a day after at least 26 people were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam. The decision marked an unprecedented development, as the treaty had survived multiple wars and diplomatic crises over more than six decades.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that the treaty would remain suspended until Pakistan “irreversibly ends its support for cross-border terrorism.”

Pakistan’s Diplomatic Outreach

In response, Pakistani authorities have reportedly written four letters to their Indian counterparts since April, urging reconsideration of the Indus Waters Treaty suspension.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Pakistan’s water resources secretary Syed Ali Murtaza sent four formal communications to India’s Jal Shakti Ministry seeking a review of the decision.

Sources indicated that three of the letters were written after Operation Sindoor, a recent security operation referenced in Indian media reports. However, the exact dates of the letters have not been publicly disclosed.

Pakistan’s position, as conveyed in the letters, is that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended and that India’s decision violates the pact’s provisions.

The letters were reportedly sent in response to a formal notification issued on April 24 by India’s water resources secretary Debashree Mukherjee to her Pakistani counterpart, informing Islamabad of the decision to place the treaty in abeyance.

India’s Position on Cross-Border Terrorism

India has maintained that its decision is linked directly to security concerns.

Debashree Mukherjee reportedly stated in her communication that honouring a treaty in good faith is fundamental, but accused Pakistan of engaging in sustained cross-border terrorism targeting the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

On April 29, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India would not engage in talks with Pakistan unless the neighbour “credibly and irrevocably abjures cross-border terrorism.”

So far, India has not formally responded to Pakistan’s four letters. Sources cited in Indian media reports indicate that New Delhi “remains firm on its decision.”

Operation Sindoor and Escalating Tensions

While details about Operation Sindoor remain limited in public disclosures, reports suggest that it followed heightened security concerns after the Pahalgam attack.

The broader diplomatic climate has deteriorated significantly since April, with both countries exchanging strong statements. Pakistan has previously warned that any reduction in water flows permitted under the treaty would be considered an “act of war.”

Such rhetoric underscores the gravity of the current standoff.

Data Sharing Halted on Western Rivers

One of the immediate consequences of the Indus Waters Treaty suspension is India’s reported halt in data sharing related to the western rivers allocated to Pakistan under the agreement.

These rivers include:

• The Indus
• The Jhelum
• The Chenab

Under the 1960 treaty framework, Pakistan was granted rights to the waters of the western rivers, while India received rights to the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej), with certain usage provisions.

The suspension of hydrological data sharing could have serious implications for Pakistan’s water management, particularly during monsoon seasons when flood forecasting and reservoir planning rely on upstream data.

Why the Indus Waters Treaty Matters

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has long been regarded as one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in the world.

Signed in 1960, the treaty:

• Allocated three eastern rivers to India
• Allocated three western rivers to Pakistan
• Established mechanisms for dispute resolution
• Created the Permanent Indus Commission

Remarkably, the treaty survived four wars between India and Pakistan (1965, 1971, 1999 Kargil conflict, and other military escalations), making this suspension historically significant.

For Pakistan, the treaty is critical to agriculture, hydropower generation, and drinking water supply. The Indus basin irrigates nearly 80 percent of the country’s cultivated land.

Legal Debate: Can the Treaty Be Suspended?

A key issue now dominating diplomatic and legal discourse is whether India can unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.

Pakistan maintains that the treaty does not contain provisions allowing unilateral suspension and that disputes must be resolved through established mechanisms, including neutral experts or arbitration panels.

International water law experts note that treaties of this nature typically include withdrawal clauses or termination procedures. The Indus Waters Treaty, however, is often described as lacking a straightforward unilateral exit provision.

If the dispute escalates legally, it could involve international arbitration or mediation, potentially reopening questions about treaty interpretation under international law.

Regional and Strategic Implications

The Indus river system is a lifeline for Pakistan’s economy and food security. Any prolonged disruption in cooperation could:

• Increase regional instability
• Impact agricultural output
• Affect hydropower production
• Escalate diplomatic tensions

Given that both India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed states, even non-military disputes such as water-sharing disagreements carry strategic weight.

Water security is increasingly becoming intertwined with national security in South Asia, particularly in the context of climate change, glacial melt, and rising water stress.

The current dispute also raises broader geopolitical concerns about transboundary river governance in a region already facing environmental and security challenges.

What Happens Next?

Several possible scenarios may unfold:

1. Diplomatic De-escalation – India could respond to Pakistan’s letters and reopen dialogue through the Permanent Indus Commission.
2. Prolonged Stalemate – The treaty may remain in abeyance without formal termination.
3. International Mediation – The World Bank or other international actors could facilitate renewed negotiations.
4. Legal Arbitration – Pakistan could seek formal dispute resolution mechanisms under the treaty framework.

Much will depend on the broader political relationship between the two countries and developments related to security concerns cited by India.

Conclusion

The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty marks a turning point in India-Pakistan relations. Pakistan’s decision to send four letters urging reconsideration reflects both diplomatic restraint and deep concern over water security.

For over six decades, the treaty stood as a rare example of sustained cooperation between adversaries. Its suspension introduces new uncertainty into an already fragile regional equation.

As both sides hold firm to their positions, the future of the Indus Waters Treaty — and by extension, water stability in South Asia — hangs in the balance.