A Treaty on the Brink: Legal Reflections on India’s Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty

Drs. Tadesse Kebebew, Caroline Pellaton, and Mara Tignino examine India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) through the lens of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), questioning the legal basis for halting one of the world’s longest-standing transboundary water agreements.

They argue that India’s justifications lack legal merit and emphasise that core principles of international water law, such as equitable use and the duty to prevent significant harm, remain binding, even without an active treaty. Water cooperation, they contend, must be upheld and adapted, especially during geopolitical tensions or conflict.

This analysis supports the Geneva Water Hub’s efforts to promote equitable water sharing and protect water during armed conflicts, and advances the mission of the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts.

Read the article here.