India Declares Indus Waters Treaty ‘Will Never Be Restored’; Plans to Divert Water to Rajasthan

New Delhi | June 21, 2025India has officially ruled out any possibility of reviving the historic Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, signaling a major shift in regional water diplomacy and bilateral relations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the move during an interview, stating firmly: “No, it will never be restored.”The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governed water sharing between the two South Asian nations for over six decades. However, tensions escalated sharply after a deadly terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based militant groups.In response, India suspended the treaty and now plans to divert the flow of Indus river waters — originally allocated to Pakistan — into the dry regions of Rajasthan, Shah announced. The government is preparing infrastructure plans, including a new canal network, to facilitate this redirection.Strategic and Diplomatic FalloutPakistan, which depends on the Indus basin for nearly 80% of its agricultural irrigation, has condemned the move as a violation of international law. Officials in Islamabad have warned that unilateral abrogation of the treaty could be considered an act of war and are preparing for legal action on the global stage.Environmental experts and foreign policy analysts fear the move could further destabilize already fraught India-Pakistan relations, particularly in the wake of recent cross-border skirmishes and diplomatic disengagement.Background and Future Steps • The 1960 treaty gave India control over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) and Pakistan rights to the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab). • India now asserts its right to utilize full potential of the eastern and western rivers within its territory. • Construction on new diversion canals and reservoirs is expected to begin later this year.This unprecedented step places water security at the center of the South Asian geopolitical conflict, with experts warning it could become a major flashpoint in future India-Pakistan confrontations.As diplomatic bridges continue to burn, the fate of millions who rely on the Indus for drinking water, agriculture, and electricity now hangs in the balance.