Indus River Water Treaty

The treaty divides the Indus River system into two parts: the eastern rivers, which flow mainly in India, and the western rivers, which flow primarily through Pakistan. India has the right to use the water from the eastern rivers for irrigation and power generation, while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers.

A Permanent Indus Commission oversees treaty implementation and resolves disputes between the two countries. One commissioner from each country is part of the commission, and it meets regularly to discuss various issues.

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The World Bank played a crucial facilitating role in the treaty's negotiation. It also provided financial support for constructing dams and other infrastructure to support water management in India and Pakistan.

Experts worldwide consider The Indus Waters Treaty a successful example of international cooperation on water management, as it has helped prevent conflicts between India and Pakistan over water.

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Background

The river system is an essential component of both countries' economies, as it provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power. After the partition of India in 1947, the two countries differed on how to use their water. Tension grew as the two countries disagreed on the appropriate distribution of water from the river system.

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In 1960, the World Bank brokered an agreement between India and Pakistan, which led to the signing of the Indus River Water Treaty.

Details of the Treaty

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The treaty contains ten articles covering topics such as the division of the rivers, the establishment of the Indus Commission, and the rights and obligations of both countries under the treaty.

The treaty divided the river system into two parts: the eastern and Western rivers. The eastern rivers, the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, are primarily in India. The western rivers, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, mostly flow through Pakistan.

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Under the treaty, India can use 20% of the water from the western rivers for irrigation. It could also use the water for power generation so long as it does not affect water flow into Pakistan. Pakistan had the right to use the remaining 80% of the water. Experts estimate the total water flow through the Western Rivers to be 99 billion metric cubes.

India had the exclusive right to use the water from the eastern rivers for irrigation and power generation. The estimated water quantity through the eastern rivers is 41 billion metric cubes.

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The treaty established the Permanent Indus Commission, which oversees the treaty's implementation. The commission has two commissioners, one from each country, and it meets regularly to discuss issues related to the treaty.

As a gesture of goodwill, India provides flood data to Pakistan every year from July 1 to October 10. When the treaty was signed, New Delhi paid 62,060,000 pounds sterling (equivalent to 125 metric tonnes of gold at that time or over USD7B in modern-day value) to help Pakistan build canals to use the waters from the Western Rivers. Some Pakistani and Western analysts erroneously say that this money was given to Pakistan by the World Bank as India did not directly give the money to Pakistan. The World Bank was only an intermediary; its cash originated from India.

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Over the years, the two countries have disagreed over the treaty's implementation. For example, Islamabad objected to New Delhi's construction of hydroelectric power projects on the western rivers, even though the treaty allowed India to use the waters for power generation. Pakistan claims this to be a violation of the treaty. However, the Permanent Indus Commission has resolved most of these disputes.

The treaty has been in force for over six decades.

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