In a bold and unprecedented move, India has suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty following the horrifying terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 innocent tourists dead. The move has sent shockwaves through the region, with Pakistan branding it an “act of war” and warning of serious repercussions.

The treaty, signed in 1960, governs the fair distribution of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan-crucial for Pakistan’s agricultural and economic stability. By putting it “in abeyance,” India is signaling a no-tolerance stance on cross-border terrorism, hitting Pakistan where it hurts most-water.

Alongside the treaty suspension, India has shut down the Attari Border, revoked Pakistani visas, and is tightening all diplomatic channels. Pakistan retaliated swiftly by halting trade, suspending bilateral accords, and banning Indian flights from its airspace.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office slammed India’s move, saying it has “no unilateral right” to suspend the treaty and hinted at exploring all possible options in response. “Water is our lifeline,” declared Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.

As geopolitical temperatures rise, one question looms large-Is South Asia heading toward a water war? The diplomatic fallout from this flashpoint could redefine the fragile peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.