Pakistan took full advantage of IWT, Saxena says
Former Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters, PK Saxena, highlighted in a recent statement that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is an unequal agreement. Speaking at the launch of a handbook titled 'Revisiting the Indus Waters Treaty' by NATSTRAT, Saxena noted that while India made unequal concessions to Pakistan, Pakistan exploited the treaty to impede legitimate hydropower development in Jammu and Kashmir.
He emphasized that the treaty's abusive use by Pakistan has hindered the region's progress, a claim disputed by Pakistan, who argues their water crisis stems from domestic policy failures and inherent vulnerabilities. Alok Joshi, chairman of India’s reconstituted National Security Advisory Board, echoed these concerns, describing the treaty as unequal and stating that the current form of IWT is unacceptable for India.
Pankaj Saran, convenor of NATSTRAT, wrote in the handbook that the treaty has withstood multiple conflicts and crises but is now "in abeyance" by India due to the Pahalgam attack. Saran noted that the evolving strategic, technological, and environmental conditions surrounding the Indus Basin have strained the treaty's original provisions.
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