The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan over the Indus River system. The treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi, Pakistan, by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the then President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan. The treaty has played a significant role in ensuring that water disputes between the two nations do not escalate into armed conflicts.
The Indus River system is one of the largest and most important river systems in South Asia, with the river originating in the Tibetan plateau and flowing through India and Pakistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea. The Indus River system comprises six major rivers, namely, the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, India has been allocated the right to use water from the eastern rivers, namely, the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, while Pakistan has been allocated the right to use water from the western rivers, namely, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. India has been given the right to use 20% of the water from the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes such as hydroelectric power generation, while Pakistan has been given the right to use the remaining 80% of the water for irrigation, power generation, and other purposes.
The treaty also established the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), which is a bilateral body that is responsible for the implementation of the treaty. The PIC comprises two commissioners, one from each country, and meets regularly to discuss issues related to the treaty.
The Indus Waters Treaty has been a remarkable success in ensuring that water disputes between India and Pakistan do not escalate into armed conflicts. However, there have been some challenges to the implementation of the treaty. For instance, Pakistan has accused India of violating the treaty by building dams on the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes, which could reduce the flow of water to Pakistan. India has, however, denied these allegations and maintained that it has not violated the treaty.
In recent years, there have been calls to revise the Indus Waters Treaty, especially in light of the growing water scarcity in the region. However, any revision of the treaty would require the agreement of both India and Pakistan, which has proven to be a challenge given the tense relations between the two nations.
The Indus Waters Treaty is a significant agreement that has helped to prevent water disputes between India and Pakistan from escalating into armed conflicts. The treaty has been a success in ensuring the equitable distribution of water from the Indus River system. However, challenges to the implementation of the treaty persist, and any revision of the treaty would require the agreement of both India and Pakistan.
What does the Indus Waters Treaty entail?
The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, with the assistance of the World Bank. The treaty aims to govern the sharing of the waters of the Indus River system, which flows from Tibet, through India, and into Pakistan.
The main points of the agreement are:
- The Indus Waters Treaty allocates the three eastern rivers of the Indus basin – the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi – to India, and the three western rivers – the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – to Pakistan.
- India is allowed to use the waters of the eastern rivers for various purposes, such as irrigation, power generation, and domestic use, but it must ensure that the flow of water to Pakistan is maintained.
- Pakistan is allowed to use the waters of the western rivers for various purposes, subject to certain restrictions, such as limitations on the size of reservoirs.
- A Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was established to resolve any disputes that may arise between India and Pakistan over the implementation of the treaty.
- The World Bank played a key role in the development and implementation of the treaty, and provides support to the PIC in its work.
The Indus Waters Treaty has been in place for over six decades, and despite some occasional disputes, it has generally been successful in promoting cooperation between India and Pakistan over the use of the Indus River system.
References:
- Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (n.d.). Indus Waters Treaty. Retrieved from https://www.mea.gov.in/indus-waters-treaty.htm
- World Bank. (2011). The Indus Waters Treaty 1960. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/indus-waters-treaty-1960
- Rasul, G. (2017). The Indus Waters Treaty: An assessment of its success. Water International, 42(2), 87-100. doi: 10.1080/02508060.2017.1299892
