Following the Pahalgam incident and India’s unilateral threats to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the World Bank has issued a response, stating that the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally.
According to the World Bank, any amendment to the treaty requires mutual agreement between both India and Pakistan.
It criticized India’s actions—such as halting the flow of the Chenab River and releasing water from reservoirs without prior notice—as clear violations of the treaty’s provisions.
In a statement, the President of the World Bank affirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended, as the treaty does not contain any clause that permits suspension.
He clarified that the World Bank’s role under the agreement is that of a facilitator, not an arbitrator.
He further stated that discussions about how the World Bank should resolve this issue are baseless, emphasizing that any alteration or termination of the treaty requires consent from both parties.
The treaty itself outlines the conditions under which such changes could be made.
