What suspension of the Treaty means
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed on September 19, 1960 between then PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Field Marshal Ayub Khan, allocated the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — to Pakistan and the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — to India.
India, the upper riparian state, can stop sharing water data immediately, but stopping water to Pakistan cannot be immediate as we are in no position to do so. Importantly, it though leaves the threat hanging over Pakistan’s heads.
“The Indus water treaty being kept in abeyance will hit Pakistan the worst. The upper three rivers – Indus, Chenab and Jhelum – the waters are supposed to flow into Pakistan. Despite the three wars, we have kept that promise. Despite the Kargil incident, despite the insurgency, India had not withdrawn from this treaty. We have been standing by it, we have been sharing waters with them. But now, we have sent the message across that it cannot be taken for granted any longer. It will be a body blow to Pakistan and particularly the Punjab province there if we carry this threat out,” said ex-Indian Army vice chief Lieutenant General Sarath Chand.
