As India has unilaterally suspended the famous Indus Waters Treaty on Wednesday following an attack in Occupied Kashmir earlier this week, many people are wondering what the importance of the treaty is.
What is Indus Waters Treaty
Indus Waters Treaty 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.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on 19 September 1960 by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan President Field Marshal Ayub Khan.
The Indus River orginates from Tibet, flows through India and into Pakistan. It constitutes of six rivers:
- Ravi
- Sutlej
- Beas
- Jhelum
- Chenab
- Indus
Under the treaty, the three Eastern rivers – Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas – were allocated to India. While the three Western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – were allocated to Pakistan.
However, India was allowed limited use of Western rivers for non-consumption requirements such as hydropower generation under strict controls.
In recent times, a dispute between Pakistan and India arose when India initiated controversial hydro-electric projects – Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower – on the Western rivers.
Pakistan raised its dispute on World Bank forum while India also appealed for appointment of a Neutral Expert. After five years of unsuccessful negotiations, the World Bank resumed its procedural obligations in March 2022.
What importance does Indus River hold for Pakistan?
Pakistan is heavily dependent on the Indus River system as it not just significant but lifeline-critical for its economy, agriculture and source of fresh water.
The Indus River and its tributaries supply about 90 per cent of Pakistan’s freshwater. Without the Indus, most of the country would be arid or semi-arid — rainfall is limited and uneven.
Around 80 per cent of Pakistan’s agriculture relies on irrigation from the Indus River system. The Indus Basin Irrigation System is one of the largest contiguous irrigation systems in the world, covering nearly 48 million acres of farmland.
Pakistan’s largest hydropower project – Tarbela Dam – also draws its water from the Indus River.
It merits a mention that Pakistan is one of the top ten water stressed countries in the world and over-reliance on a single river system amidst climate change-related challenges have increased the risks.
Read more: India suspends Indus Waters Treaty following Kashmir attack
In a significant development, India on Wednesday announced unilateral suspension of more than 60 years old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan following attack in Indian occupied Kashmir on April 22 which killed 26 tourists.
On April 23, Modi-led government officially responded to the Kashmir attack by putting all the blame on Pakistan and announcing five actions against Pakistan.
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
The CCS undertook a long meeting and following decisions have been made against Pakistan:
- Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty, 1960
- Immediate closure of Integrated Check Post Attari and Wagah border.
- Pakistani nationals banned for travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. All Pakistanis in India under SVES visa given 48 hours to leave India.
- The Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared Persona Non Grata.
- Reduction in overall strength of the High Commissions from the present 55 to 30 people, effective from 1 May, 2025.
