We are watching two very different paths being taken right now. One is a path of aggression, where India has shockingly decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, turning a shared source of life into a political weapon. This high-stakes gamble not only creates danger close to home but also disregards the norms that keep our world from descending into chaos. Then there is the other path, the one championed by Pakistan. It’s a path of reason and responsibility, where the call is for dialogue, the appeal is to international law, and the goal is peaceful cooperation.

For over six decades, the IWT has stood as a symbol of resilience and peaceful coexistence, even during times of war. Brokered by the World Bank in 1960, it allocated the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. Despite countless provocations, Pakistan has honoured the treaty — even when India repeatedly tested its patience with dam constructions and water flow diversions.

India’s recent decision to walk away from this historic agreement, in the aftermath of an unverified incident in Kashmir, reveals the depth of its growing hostility. No credible evidence linked Pakistan to the attack in question. Yet, India chose to politicize water — a vital lifeline for........

© Daily Pakistan