Can a treaty be unilateral? Does it come with binding obligations? What kind of treaty does India believe in, and on what grounds can a country be held responsible for actions not yet evaluated? Recently, the Foreign Secretary of India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan—an act that Pakistan has termed an act of war—following the 2025 Baisaran Valley terrorist attack.

Disputes over the Indus River date back to the partition of the subcontinent, when control of the river system fell to India. India could, and often did, interrupt the water flow. In response, a solution was sought, leading to the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960. India was recognized as the upper riparian and Pakistan as the lower riparian. But why was this treaty signed in the first place? And how has it brought two nuclear-armed neighbors to such a precarious position?

A recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam—a popular tourist destination in Indian-administered Kashmir—claimed at least 26 lives and injured over 20 others. Militants opened fire in the Baisaran Valley, targeting a group of tourists. India promptly accused Pakistan of being directly or indirectly involved.

As a result, tensions between the two countries have escalated significantly. India........

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