India's Strategy about Indus Waters Treaty

Talks about the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) have begun yet again in the backdrop of the Uri attack. Think tanks and media circles are once again weighing the prospect of tapping the imaginary tap of Indus’s water. Our Prime Minister has already given a clear message that mutual trust and cooperation is needed for such a treaty to work. Amidst all these discussions over the last fortnight, one aspect which has remained unaddressed is how effective can IWT become as
a strategic tool in handling Pakistan, provided we renew our perspective.

The question which needs to be
answered before abrogating an international treaty in a knee-jerk reaction is whether it has served its purpose for both India and Pakistan. Considering the circumstances in which the IWT was negotiated in 1960, it was indeed the most practical solution. The treaty served its purpose for India and Pakistan for decades by preventing another embattled front between the two rival nations. However, needs have evolved with time, making the issue complex.