India has issued a second formal notice to Pakistan, seeking a “review and modification” of the 64-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
This follows the first notice sent in January 2023, indicating New Delhi’s intent to address what it views as fundamental changes in the geopolitical and environmental landscape since the treaty was signed in 1960, citing changes in population growth, agricultural needs, and the evolving water usage situation since the treaty’s inception in 1960.
The latest notice, sent under Article XII (3) of the treaty, underscores India’s push to renegotiate the water-sharing agreement, which governs the use of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two nations.
At the heart of the issue are two hydropower projects in Jammu & Kashmir—the Kishanganga and Ratle hydel projects—both of which Pakistan has repeatedly claimed violate the terms of the IWT.
India’s push for treaty amendments is linked to its efforts to build new water reservoirs, and it claims that the current agreement no longer effectively facilitates these projects.
Indian officials argue that the country’s growing population and shifts in agricultural demands necessitate changes to the existing water-sharing terms.
In addition, India has controversially linked the water-sharing issues with concerns over terrorism and alleged infiltration, claiming these factors are hindering the full utilization of its water share under the treaty.
