In a firm rebuke to India’s belligerent posturing, the World Bank has categorically dismissed New Delhi’s threats to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that the landmark agreement cannot be unilaterally revoked or paused by either party.
In a strongly worded statement, the President of the World Bank clarified that the Treaty contains no clause allowing for suspension and reiterated that the Bank’s role is strictly that of a facilitator, not an arbitrator. “The World Bank has no adjudicative function under the Treaty, and speculations about how the Bank might resolve the issue are baseless,” he stated.
The World Bank President further underlined that any attempt to terminate or alter the Treaty must be based on mutual agreement between Pakistan and India, in accordance with the binding terms of the accord.
Signed in 1960 with the World Bank as guarantor, the Indus Waters Treaty is internationally recognized as one of the most successful transboundary water-sharing agreements. India’s repeated threats to walk away from the Treaty have been widely criticized as irresponsible and legally untenable.
This latest clarification from the World Bank exposes India’s rhetoric as hollow and reinforces Pakistan’s longstanding position that the Treaty is a binding international commitment. The statement also serves as a powerful reminder that unilateral adventurism cannot override international law.
