Indus Waters Treaty
| Date | 19 September 1960 - Present |
|---|
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, arranged and negotiated by the World Bank, to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries. It was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960 by then Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistani president Ayub Khan.[1]
The IWT gives India control over the waters of the three 'Eastern Rivers' — the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej — which have a total mean annual flow of 41 billion cubic metres. Control over the three 'Western Rivers' — the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum — which have a total mean annual flow of 99 billion cubic metres, was given to Pakistan. India received control of 30% of the total water carried by the rivers, while Pakistan received 70%. The treaty allows India to use the water of Western Rivers for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive uses such as power generation, navigation, floating of property, fish culture, etc. It lays down detailed regulations for India in building projects over the Western Rivers. The preamble of the treaty recognises the rights and obligations of each country for the optimum water use from the Indus System of Rivers in a spirit of goodwill, friendship and cooperation. Though the treaty is not directly related to national security, Pakistan, being located downstream of India, fears that India could potentially cause floods or droughts in Pakistan, especially during a potential conflict.
Since the ratification of the treaty in 1960, most disputes have been settled via the legal framework provided by the treaty, despite several military conflicts having occurred between the two countries. The treaty was suspended for the first time by the Government of India on 23 April 2025, following the 2025 Pahalgam attack.[2]
The IWT is considered one of the most successful water sharing endeavours in the world today, even though analysts acknowledge the need to update certain technical specifications and expand the scope of the agreement to address climate change.
References
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