Fishermen are standing on their boat in search of fish in the Indus River in Jamshoro district in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on May 6, 2025. Pakistan has warned of a full force response to any attempt by India to divert or block its share of water under the Indus water treaty. Credit – Jan Ali Laghari—Getty Images
Amid military tensions between India and Pakistan, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed earlier this week to stop water from crossing the border into Pakistan, stating „India’s water will be used for India’s interests.“
On April 23, Modi suspended a 1960 treaty that allows the two countries to share water from the Indus Basin. However, building infrastructure to stop the flow of water into Pakistan would take India years to carry out, further straining the resources of a water-scarce country.
Pakistan’s water resources have already been burdened by climate change, with rising temperatures, droughts, melting glaciers, and superfloods impacting the timing of water flow. India’s actions could worsen the crisis and pose long-term challenges for Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
Many Pakistanis lack access to clean and reliable water sources due in part to climate change. After the 2022 floods, which killed at least 1,700 people, over 10 million were left without safe drinking water, according to a UNICEF report.
Why does India control Pakistan’s water supply?
When the South Asian subcontinent was divided by the British in 1947, the Indus River was split between India and Pakistan, creating challenges from the start.
Much of the headwaters are in India, yet most irrigation systems are in Pakistan, leading to a significant dependency on the Indus Basin for Pakistan’s agriculture and hydropower.
The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960, required equal water division between the two countries and included mechanisms to resolve disputes, designed to last indefinitely.
While cutting off Pakistan’s water supply entirely is unfeasible for India due to infrastructure limitations, small disruptions could impact water flow into Pakistan, affecting the agricultural system.
The treaty has withstood previous conflicts between the two nations, demonstrating its resilience.
Why does Pakistan have a water crisis?
Pakistan’s water scarcity crisis predates its formation, with disputes over water allocation in the region dating back to the colonial era.
Climate change, rapid population growth, and inadequate water supply infrastructure are exacerbating the crisis, making Pakistan one of the most water-stressed countries globally.
Recent droughts and flooding have further strained Pakistan’s water resources, impacting agriculture, livelihoods, and urban water supplies.
The country heavily relies on water from the Indus Basin, and any changes to its water supply will have significant repercussions on agriculture and millions of livelihoods.
„Da das Wassersystem in Pakistan bereits so gestresst ist, könnte jede Art von größeren Störung, sei es der Zeitpunkt, geschweige denn das Volumen, potenziell ziemlich ernste Konsequenzen haben.“ Schreiben Sie an Simmone Shah unter [email protected].