Is Pakistan using Indus Valley to trick world on Indus treaty shelved by India?
Pakistan is increasingly invoking the Indus Valley Civilisation to assert its historical claim as the primary custodian of the Indus River system. This narrative shift follows India's decision to put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance due to ongoing cross-border terrorism.
Why it matters
The weaponization of archaeological history in geopolitical disputes signals a hardening of diplomatic stances between India and Pakistan regarding vital water resources.
New Delhi , UPDATED: Jun 23, 2026 14:12 IST Pakistan, which has for years taught students that its history began with the Sindh conquest of Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 CE, launched fresh excavations at Mohenjo-daro of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which had remained largely untouched since American archaeologist George Dales excavated it in 1965. This excavation commenced at the 5,000-year-old metropolis in June 2025, months after India launched Operation Sindoor and put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, after Islamabad-backed terrorists killed 28 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.
The article frames Pakistan's archaeological efforts as a 'trick' and a 'newfound love' to challenge India, reflecting a perspective aligned with Indian nationalist discourse.
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