India, May 3 -- In a region long defined by mistrust, militarised borders, and unresolved historical grievances, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has stood as a rare example of sustained cooperation between India and Pakistan. Brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan's President Ayub Khan, this treaty marked a bold step forward - a diplomatic feat that divided the waters of the mighty Indus river system with a sense of pragmatic optimism. More than 60 years later, the treaty remains intact, having weathered multiple wars, diplomatic breakdowns, and geopolitical shocks. But today, it stands at its most critical juncture.

The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed...