Indus Treaty Suspension Sends Clear Message to Pakistan, Says Advocate Virag Gupta

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty has drawn strong public and legal reactions, with senior advocate Virag Gupta calling the move a long-overdue and powerful message to Pakistan. Speaking on the treaty’s historical context and strategic significance, Gupta emphasized how the decision marks a definitive departure from India's earlier restraint, even during times of conflict.

“After the partition, both India and Pakistan started working on their development. Due to dispute over rivers, this treaty was signed in Karachi in 1960 by India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan, with the mediation of the World Bank,” Gupta explained.

The Indus Waters Treaty outlines how the water from six rivers—Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—is to be shared between the two countries. Despite several wars and decades of strained ties, India had never unilaterally suspended the treaty until now.

“But now that it is suspended,” Gupta said, “this gives a clear message to Pakistan that they can’t continue terror attacks in India.”

The legal expert added that the suspension reflects India's shift toward a zero-tolerance posture on terrorism, especially in the aftermath of a heinous attack like the one in Pahalgam. He noted that the action also aligns with growing public sentiment demanding tougher responses to cross-border terrorism and re-evaluation of long-standing diplomatic protocols.