INDIA’S designs of kinetic aggression against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam incident faced a serious setback as the world community seemed sceptical of believing India’s assertion of Pakistan’s involvement in the incident without any proof being presented by India other than mere rhetoric. Then came the Chinese support for Pakistan, and India suffered big time.

In this overall scenario the biggest target achieved by India seems to be the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. India may not get any immediate benefits from the unilateral holding in abeyance of the treaty, which had withstood three wars and many ups and downs since the 1960s. But at least India gave an inkling of how it intends to go about the terms of the treaty in the future.

In the near future, water would be a precious resource due to the effects of global warming. Pakistan must do its best to formulate a competent legal team to take up the issue at the highest inter-national and legal forums. India should not be allowed to change or modify the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty at all.

Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025