The document discusses the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan to share the water from the Indus River and its tributaries. It summarizes the key terms of the treaty, including that Western rivers like the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan, while Eastern rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi were allocated to India. It also discusses subsequent disputes between the countries over construction of hydroelectric projects on shared rivers and the need to periodically review and modernize the treaty terms.

1. Ms. AsmaAkbar Ali
Educationist
Revised January 2020
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2. The river Indus locally called “Sindhu”
starts its journey in Tibet area of China at
approximately 18,000 feet 0r 5,500 meters
It flows through the Himalayas and into
Kashmir and Punjab before converging
into Pakistan. It flows through Pakistan
and completes its journey by falling into
the Arabian sea.
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3. Indus water treaty is an agreement between Pakistan and India for
the distribution and peaceful utilization of the water from river
Indus that is flowing into both countries
Two Countries - One
Water
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5. It was signed on 19th September 1960 in Karachi
 Pakistan’s president Field Marshall Mr Ayub Khan
 India ‘s Prime Minister Mr Jawahar Lal Nehru
 Witness was Mr. Eugene R. Black who was the then
president of the World Bank.
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6. Western Rivers
 Indus
 Jhelum
 Chenab.
The Eastern Rivers
 Sutlej
 Beas
 Ravi
It categorizes the river Indus and its tributaries into two
parts
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8. India All the waters of the Eastern Rivers shall be
available unrestricted for the use of India and
that Pakistan shall allow the flow freely and not
make any interference with these waters where
these rivers flow in Pakistan.
Pakistan All the waters of the Western rivers shall be
available unrestricted for the use of Pakistan
and that India shall allow the flow freely and
not make any interference with these waters.
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9. And that all the waters that are flowing inside of Pakistan by
its natural course such that the eastern rivers that come
inside Pakistan shall be available for the unrestricted use of
Pakistan
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11. 1. Pakistan will make its canal system during uninterrupted period of ten years in
which India will allow the waters of eastern rivers to flow through the rivers.
2. That Pakistan can construct Dams or Head-works on river Indus, Jhelum and
Sutlej, according to its requirement.
3. If India requires constructing dams on river Chenab in order to meet its
electricity requirement, it will be run-of-river arrangement and that no reservoir
will be constructed.
4. Both countries will record withdrawal at the heads and release from reservoirs and
this data will be exchanged every month.
5. A permanent Indus Commission is constituted to ensure the implementation and
management of the treaty
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12. 1. In 1970, initiated the Baglihar Dam, a Hydroelectric power project
(HEP) ; it is a run-of-the-river power project on the Chenab River
disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
2. In1984, India started to build the Tulbul barrage on Jhelum. Pakistan
objected to it and India has stopped the project.
Explainer: The Tulbul Project was a "navigation lock-cum-control
structure" at the mouth of Wular Lake. According to plan, the barrage
would be 439 feet or134 meters long and 40 feet or 12 meters wide,
and would have a maximum storage capacity of 300,000 acre⋅ft
(370×106 m3) of water. this dispute is still not resolved.
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13. In 2007, India inaugurated the Kishanganga dam and HEP.The
Kishanganga is a tributary of river Jhelum known as Neelum in
Pakistan.
 The Kishanganga River flows through the regions of Neelum in AJK
and Astore before entering the disputed region of Gurez.
 The dam is expected to give India control over the river that flows
from Pakistan into disputed Kashmir and then re-enters Pakistan.
 Kishanganga HEP will transfer the water from the Gurez Valley into
mainland Kashmir and stop the natural course of flow coming back to
Pakistan.
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15. eNation: Indian construction of Kishanganga
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16.  The Treaty states that “India has control over the three eastern rivers
which are Beas Ravi and Sutlej and that India if required can use the
waters of the western rivers in “non-consumptive” ways.
 The dispute here is India’s interpretation of building the “run-of-
the-river” projects. India says that the HEP it is building do not
change the course of the river and do not deplete the water level
downstream.
 But Pakistan does not agree and argues that the Kishanganga project
is and will change the water course and deplete the downstream of
water coming into Pakistan
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17. 1. When India Started the project in 2007, Pakistan raised concern
and in 2010 referred to the permanent Court of Arbitration at
The Hague, which stayed the project for three years.
2. In 2013, the court ruled that the Kishanganga was “a run-of-
the-river plant within the meaning of the Indus Waters Treaty
3. In 2016, Pakistan asked the World Bank to appoint a court of
arbitration to review the designs of Kishanganga
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18. In 2016, India announced suspension of all meeting for
discussions on Indus Water Treaty in regards to the Uri attack
and Indian prime minister Mr Modi said - “Blood and Water
cannot flow together”
Explainer
On 18 September 2016, an insurgency occurred near the town
of Uri in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir, in which 19–30
persons were injured and 23 Indian soldiers were killed. India
accused this attack on Pakistan to which Pakistan denied and
Prime Minister Mr Nawaz Sharif responded by saying that this
could be internal "reaction" of people in Kashmir and that India
is blaming Pakistan "without any evidence"
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20. 1. Not as per the treaty but, India can violate the treaty by
utilizing the provisions of the treaty.
2. However such project which can affect or divert the water
need time , money and international cooperation
3. If India has to maintain its international reputation and
credibility especially with its neighbours like Nepal and
Bangladesh with whom it has joint water agreements.
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21. 4. If India wants to divert this big water towards its inland than it
will be more disastrous than helpful because India does not have
the infrastructure to use or store the additional water and so such
an action can cause floods and destroy the settlements and
economy of India.
5. 80 – 90%% of Pakistan’s agriculture is irrigated by river Indus
waters, reducing the water flow to Pakistan will unleash unrest
and people sentiments and reaction in Pakistan which can lead
to conflicts between the two countries and unrest in the
region
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22. 1. The Permanent Commission came into being in 1960 and so it is
very old and therefore with the changing geopolitical situations of
the south Asian region there is need to revisit and interpret the
modalities of the Indus treaty keeping the present conditions.
2. The Commission must not be influenced by political agendas but it
must play its role in national interest and should meet regularly to
discuss and find co-operate solutions for the smooth
implementation and regular up-gradation of the treaty
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23. 1. Indus originates from Tibet in China. China can close down
the water running from its head front and create problems for
both countries
2. Climate change is causing the melting of glaciers in the Tibet
to which geologists are raising concern that the water capacity
of the Indus can be minimized. It is wise therefore to divert
attention to this matter and that an immediate climate change
modalities by formulating a triage with China should be
considered
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24. 1. Indus Water Treaty is in its true sense a means of peaceful
survival between the two countries.
2. Respecting its conditions and implementation with making the
regular up-gradation and reforms that are based on the changing
geographical, political and environmental challenges of the south
Asia region.
3. Both countries should respect this document as an agreement of
peace and make it workable such that it benefits the people of
both countries.
4. This agreement should not become a game in the hands of the bad
politicians, it should be kept away from becoming politically
maneuvered to refrain it becoming a reason for war between two
interdependent countries.
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25. The treaty is among the most successful water-sharing arrangements in the
world and an example on how diverse countries can live interdependent on
each other and maintain peace in the region
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26. Indus water provides to
 80 to 90% of Pakistan's
agricultural irrigation
 50% of employment
 Contributes 25% to the GDP
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