India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, has escalated tensions with Pakistan. The decision, announced by Jal Shakti Ministry Secretary Debashree Mukherjee, cites Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism as a breach of the treaty’s goodwill. Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza sent four letters urging India to reconsider, with three dispatched after Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes. Pakistan argues the suspension violates the 1960 treaty’s terms, critical for its economy, as 80% of Indus waters are allocated to it. India has halted data sharing on the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, intensifying Pakistan’s water crisis concerns.

Former Union water secretary Shashi Shekhar noted Pakistan’s desperation, with 25% of its GDP reliant on these waters, warning of potential civil unrest. India remains firm, demanding Pakistan end terrorism. Pakistani leaders called reduced water flows an “act of war,” marking the treaty’s first suspension.