Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Water 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.^[1][2][3][4] It was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960 by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistani president Ayub Khan.^[5][1]

The Treaty gives control over the waters of the three "eastern rivers" — the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej located in India with a mean annual flow of 41 billion m³ (33 million acre⋅ft) — to India, while control over the waters of the three "western rivers" — the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum located in India with a mean annual flow of 99 billion m³ — to Pakistan.^[6] India got about 30% of the total water carried by the Indus system located in India while Pakistan got the remaining 70%.^[7][8] The treaty allows India to use the western river waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive use such as power generation, navigation, floating of property, fish culture, etc.^[9] 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 no way connected with security aspects of both nations, Pakistan, being a downstream nation of both eastern and western rivers, fears that India could potentially create floods or droughts in Pakistan, especially in times of warlike situations.^[10][11]

In 1948 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948, the water rights of the river system were the focus of an Indo-Pakistani water dispute. Since the ratification of the treaty in 1960, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars, despite engaging in several military conflicts. Most disagreements and disputes have been settled via legal procedures, provided for within the framework of the treaty.^[12]

The Indus Waters Treaty 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.^[13][14]