India Holds Treaty Stance as Pakistan Remains Silent on China's Upstream Dam

India reiterated that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty will stay in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible action against cross‑border terrorism, a policy it has followed since suspending the treaty after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. Pakistan, however, continues to claim the treaty remains valid and its officials have issued strong statements against India’s hydropower projects on the western rivers.

At the same time, Pakistan has offered little public criticism of China’s medium‑scale dam on the Sengge Zangpo, the upper Indus in western Tibet near the Line of Actual Control. The upstream structure could affect seasonal flows that sustain nearly 80 % of Pakistan’s irrigated agriculture. Analysts note that Pakistan’s muted response reflects its strategic partnership with China, a key military and economic ally, whereas it routinely internationalises objections to Indian projects.