Analysis: Calls for Strategic Review of Indus Waters Treaty Following Pahalgam Incident

An analysis published by Khaama Press outlines a proposed strategic shift in how New Delhi approaches the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, following the recent incident in Pahalgam. The 1960 agreement governs water distribution between India and Pakistan and allocated approximately eighty percent of the basin’s total flow to Pakistan, specifically designating the western rivers—the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—for Pakistani use. Historically, India has exercised strategic restraint in developing storage and irrigation infrastructure on these rivers, despite holding certain permitted rights under the existing framework.

The report argues that India should fundamentally reassess its water-sharing policy, adopting a doctrine summarized as blood and water cannot flow together. Under this proposed framework, cooperation on shared river resources would be treated as strictly conditional upon regional security and cross-border conduct. Advocates of this perspective suggest moving away from historical restraint toward a more assertive management of water resources in response to recent security developments.

The proposed policy shift reflects broader debates on linking environmental and resource cooperation with security dynamics. The analysis emphasizes that continued water sharing cannot be separated from ongoing cross-border tensions, urging a comprehensive recalibration of India’s approach to the treaty. At present, no official government statements confirming a formal policy change have been cited in the report.