India, July 5 -- Once cited as one of the world's most stable bilateral water-sharing agreements, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, has become a prickly issue in the aftermath of Pakistan's relentless military and insurgent escalations against India, particularly in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Facilitated by the World Bank, the treaty has survived multiple wars and prolonged political tensions. New Delhi finally decided to place the treaty "in abeyance" in April 2025, after Pakistan-supported terrorists carried out a deadly attack against unsuspecting tourists in Pahalgam. Islamabad, predictably, rejected the allegation.

Maintaining that the treaty remains legally binding for India, Pakistani l...