Introduction to the Indus Water Basin

The Indus Waters Treaty: A Historical Overview

Recent Tensions and Treaty Suspension

Understanding the Treaty and Its Disputes

David Ental's Role in the Treaty

The Importance of the Rivers to Pakistan

India’s Water Projects, Pak’s Worries

The Salal Project and Bilateral Concessions

Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

India’s Notice & Treaty Talks

Pakistan's Dependence and Fears

Weaponization of Water: Myth or Reality?

Potential for Conflict and War

India's Hydropower Plans Moving Forward

Short, Medium, and Long-Term Plans

Implications for Other Border States

China's Stance on Water Agreements

Global Perspective on the Water Conflict

Ecological Concerns and Future Outlook

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Credits and Acknowledgements

India’s move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance marks a watershed moment with far-reaching consequences is the starkest example of weaponizing the natural resource in recent times. The IWT, critical to both countries and a lifestream for Pakistan, has survived 6 decades of hostilities and 4 armed conflics. But it has been marked with disputes and disagreements. The Pahalgam attacks was the last straw that made India take the extreme step of keeping it in abeyance. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with leading experts Anubhuti Vishnoi, Senior Editor,at The Economic Times and Pranab Dhal Samanta, Executive Editor (Politics),at The Economic Times to unpack the legal, political, and strategic dimensions of this bold decision.

What does holding the treaty "in abeyance" truly mean under international law? Could this signal a shift in India’s approach to critical resource diplomacy? And as energy security takes center stage, will Jammu & Kashmir finally unlock its vast hydroelectric potential?
Moreover, could India’s stance on the IWT set a powerful precedent for future water-sharing agreements across the region—and challenge the established global norms?

Stay tuned as we explore the high stakes, hidden challenges, and historic opportunities emerging from this unfolding story.

 

Tune in.

Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: Tariffs trump trade, The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank, The Influencer Economy’s Quiet Reset, India’s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness and much more.


You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

You can follow Pranab Dhal Samanta on his social media: Twitter and Linkedin

You can follow Anubhuti Vishnoi on her social media: Twitter and Linkedin

Catch the latest episode of ‘The Morning Brief’ on ET Play, The Economic Times Online, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music and Youtube.

India&rsquo;s move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance marks a watershed moment with far-reaching consequences is the starkest example of weaponizing the natural resource in recent times. The IWT, critical to both countries and a lifestream for Pakistan, has survived 6 decades of hostilities and 4 armed conflics. But it has been marked with disputes and disagreements. The Pahalgam attacks was the last straw that made India take the extreme step of keeping it in abeyance. In this episode of The Morning Brief, host Anirban Chowdhury speaks with leading experts Anubhuti Vishnoi, Senior Editor,at The Economic Times and Pranab Dhal Samanta, Executive Editor (Politics),at The Economic Times to unpack the legal, political, and strategic dimensions of this bold decision.
What does holding the treaty "in abeyance" truly mean under international law? Could this signal a shift in India&rsquo;s approach to critical resource diplomacy? And as energy security takes center stage, will Jammu &amp; Kashmir finally unlock its vast hydroelectric potential? Moreover, could India&rsquo;s stance on the IWT set a powerful precedent for future water-sharing agreements across the region&mdash;and challenge the established global norms?
Stay tuned as we explore the high stakes, hidden challenges, and historic opportunities emerging from this unfolding story.
&nbsp;
Tune in. Check out other interesting episodes from the host like: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000702130670">Tariffs trump trade</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000701174049">The Curious Case of IndusInd Bank</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000701977001">The Influencer Economy&rsquo;s Quiet Reset</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777?i=1000700201610">India&rsquo;s Biggest Hospital has a Chronic Illness</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">much more</a>. You can follow Anirban Chowdhury on his social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/AnirbanET">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-chowdhury-b5067219/">Linkedin </a>You can follow Pranab Dhal Samanta on his social media: <a href="https://x.com/pranabsamanta">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://in.linkedin.com/in/pranab-dhal-samanta-443ab8159">Linkedin</a> You can follow Anubhuti Vishnoi on her social media: <a href="https://twitter.com/anubhutivishnoi">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anubhuti-vishnoi-a12071245/">Linkedin </a>Catch the latest episode of &lsquo;The Morning Brief&rsquo; on <a href="https://www.etplay.com/etplay">ET Play</a>, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/podcast?from=mdr">The Economic Times Online</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PL5kfPbwURBEu6fHCVTOL?si=26ec0fbfa7134fea"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-morning-brief/id1568661777">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.jiosaavn.com/shows/the-morning-brief/1/GNPiFQD2xpY_">JioSaavn</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/f378141f-9afb-495d-83da-9b08ec5047ac/the-morning-brief">Amazon Music</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theetpodcasts">Youtube</a>.

To make sense of the week’s hottest stories in business, economy, politics and markets, journalists from the Economic Times chat with reporters and industry leaders in this thrice-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) podcast.

The Morning Brief

Water War: The Indus Waters Treaty Conflict.

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