India Moves to Divert River Waters from Pakistan After Indus Treaty Suspension

India has initiated steps to reroute water from rivers flowing into Pakistan after suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in response to a deadly Kashmir attack in April 2025. Authorities are conducting a pre-feasibility study for the Chenab-Ravi-Beas-Sutlej link canal project, designed to transfer 15-20 million acre-feet of water from the Chenab River to Indian regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

A key proposal includes extending the Ranbir Canal from 60 km to 120 km, boosting India’s ability to divert water for domestic needs and reducing downstream flow to Pakistan’s Punjab. India is also expediting new dams and hydropower projects on the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers to tighten control over shared waters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared, "India's water will flow only in India," signaling a firm stance on maximizing water usage under the treaty while limiting releases to Pakistan. While these measures aim to bolster India’s water security and geopolitical leverage, experts caution that large-scale infrastructure changes will take years to materialize.