On April 23, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi executed a historic and audacious decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a 65-year-old pact governing the sharing of six Himalayan rivers between India and Pakistan. This bold move, prompted by a devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives and was linked to Pakistan-based terrorists, underscores Modi’s unparalleled political acumen in navigating the complexities of modern warfare.

In an era where conflicts are multi-layered, blending diplomacy, economics, and resource control, Modi’s strategic manoeuvre has placed Pakistan in a precarious position even before any military strike takes place. By suspending the IWT, described by Pakistan as an “act of war," Modi has unleashed a cascade of challenges for Pakistan’s economy, agriculture, and societal stability. Early signs of disruption are already evident, signalling the profound impact of this masterstroke on a nation critically dependent on the Indus river system.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered in 1960 through World Bank mediation, has long been a pillar of transboundary water cooperation, allocating the Indus River system’s six rivers—Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—between India and Pakistan. India controls the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej), while Pakistan relies on the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), which supply 80 per cent of the basin’s water flow. For Pakistan, an agrarian nation, this water is the lifeblood of its economy, irrigating 80 per cent of its farmland, sustaining 90 per cent of its food production, and powering a third of its hydropower. The treaty’s endurance through three wars and numerous crises highlighted its resilience—until Modi’s calculated decision to place it in “abeyance," a move that showcases his ability to wield India’s upstream advantage as a geopolitical weapon.

Citing Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism as a........

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