{"id":1151,"date":"2025-06-21T13:55:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T13:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=1151"},"modified":"2025-06-22T02:51:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T02:51:20","slug":"the-concise-overview-of-international-law-on-blocking-shared-water-supplies-between-india-and-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/06\/21\/the-concise-overview-of-international-law-on-blocking-shared-water-supplies-between-india-and-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"The concise overview of international law on India Declaration that It Will Never Restore Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

India Declares It Will Never Restore Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MMNN | June 22, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Delhi<\/strong> \u2014 In a provocative and unprecedented stance, India\u2019s Home Minister Amit Shah has declared that New Delhi will never restore the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, a decades-old accord that guarantees water access to approximately 80% of Pakistan\u2019s agricultural sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to the Times of India<\/em> on June 21, Shah confirmed that India has indefinitely suspended its participation in the 1960 treaty, citing a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. India has attributed the attack to Pakistan-based elements, an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shah stated unequivocally, “No, it will never be restored. We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal. Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This announcement has dealt a severe blow to Islamabad’s hopes of reviving negotiations around the treaty. The suspension marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, especially in light of their fragile ceasefire agreement reached just last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Reuters reported that India intends to significantly increase its utilization of river water from systems that flow downstream into Pakistan\u2014a move viewed as part of retaliatory policy changes in response to recurring border tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, is one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements in history, designed to manage the shared use of six rivers originating in India and flowing into Pakistan. It allocates the three eastern rivers to India and the three western rivers to Pakistan, with specific provisions on usage and dispute resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a formal response, but it has previously warned that unilateral suspension or diversion of river flows would be regarded as a violation of international law and an “act of war.” Islamabad is reportedly exploring legal avenues through international institutions, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to challenge India’s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International observers have voiced concern over the potential for escalation, with some experts warning that the weaponization of water resources between two hostile neighbors could have severe humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MMNN will continue monitoring developments on this high-stakes issue affecting regional peace and food security in South Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tags:<\/strong> Indus Waters Treaty, India-Pakistan relations, Amit Shah, water conflict, international law, South Asia, MMNN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transboundary Water Laws & Key Principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Equitable & Reasonable Utilization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Under customary international law\u2014and treaties like the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention\u2014each country sharing a water system has the right to a fair share based on geography, population, and usage needs reddit.com+2reddit.com+2bhattandjoshiassociates.com+2<\/a>bhattandjoshiassociates.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2policy-wire.com+2<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. No Significant Harm Rule<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

States must prevent actions that significantly harm other riparian countries\u2014either through reduced flow or water pollution en.wikipedia.org+9en.wikipedia.org+9policy-wire.com+9<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Obligation to Cooperate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Countries must consult, share data, and engage in good-faith negotiations before taking actions that affect shared watercourses .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Emergency and Armed Conflict Protections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In dangerous situations\u2014natural disasters or war\u2014states must notify neighbors and avoid damaging water infrastructure msuilr.org+15internationalwaterlaw.org+15en.wikipedia.org+15<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Precedents & Treaties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n