Indus River
Indus river originates originally in Tibet, flows through- Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Sindh in Pakistan, and then eventually joins the Arabian Sea, South of Karachi, Pakistan. The setting is such that the rivers- Indus, Jhelum, Chenab flow westward, and Beas, Sutlej, Ravi flow eastward. The net flow of the east-flowing rivers is 33 MAF (Million Acres Feet) and the West flowing rivers is 135 MAF.
Current Situation
The Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan is far from new, but tensions continue to escalate. Despite Pakistan’s defeats in the wars of 1965, 1971, and the Kargil conflict, and India’s ongoing efforts to pursue peace, the valley has seen repeated militant attacks. One such tragic incident occurred in September 2016, when the Indian Army camp in Uri, Kashmir, was attacked, claiming the lives of 20 soldiers. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared, “Blood and water cannot flow together.”
This was followed by the devastating Pulwama attack in 2019. Most recently, on April 22, 2025, terrorists launched a brutal assault on innocent tourists, killing 28 people who had come to enjoy the peaceful beauty of Kashmir with their families and friends.
In a strong retaliatory move, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty with immediate effect—a decision that could have severe repercussions for Pakistan, where many urban areas are already struggling with a shortage of fresh water.
India presently using slightly more than 90% of the 20% of the total western waters allocated to it. Thus, Pakistan is heavily dependent on the remaining 80% share of water, which is vital for its agriculture—particularly in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab. Furthermore, the country has only two major dams, Mangla and Tarbela, which together can store just 10% of the total annual water flow allocated under the Indus Water Treaty.
CHRONOLOGY THAT TRIGGERED THE IWT-
- 1947– India & Pakistan gained independence from the British regime.
- 1948– India having the basin of the Indus river under its territorial control, stopped the supply to Pakistan. This invited clamor from Pakistan. India soon restored the supply. In the same year, David Lilienthal, the former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority and of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission visited the region to do an article. Seeing the gravity of issues, he suggested resolving conflicts by improving cooperation. He proposed that the Indus water problem should be solved from the perspective of engineering.
- 1951– Pakistan again accused India of cutting down the water supply. Meanwhile, the World Bank was already involved in the arbitration of the issue.
- 1954- World Bank formally proposed a solution that east-flowing rivers should be under India’s control and west-flowing rivers to be under Pakistan’s control. Pakistan however, expressed its disagreement called the solution to be in India’s favor.
- 1960– Efforts paid results. An agreement was reached and the treaty known as “INDUS WATER TREATY” was officially signed.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE TREATY?
- Signed on 19th September 1960 at Karachi between India’s then Prime Minister- Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s President- Ayub Khan. The entire treaty was brokered by the World Bank. It also financed the construction of canals and storage facilities.
- 3 eastern rivers- Ravi, Beas, Sutlej were allocated to India. While the remaining three west-flowing rivers- Indus, Jhelum, Chenab were allocated to Pakistan. India can use only 20% of the flow i.e. 27 MAF for its domestic and non-consumptive use.
- A Permanent Indus Commission was formed to meet twice a year for discussion and propose solutions to disputes if any. Issues if not solved here may be escalated to the World Bank’s neutral committee which can be further escalated to the UN’s court of arbitration.
- The treaty cannot be terminated until and unless both the parties unanimously ratify to dissolve it.
The Indus Water Treaty, once hailed as a symbol of diplomatic success amidst deep-rooted hostility, now stands at the crossroads of history. What was meant to be a bridge of cooperation is being tested by the relentless tide of violence and betrayal. India’s decision to suspend the treaty reflects not just a strategic recalibration, but a resolute message—that peace cannot be a one-sided endeavor. As long as terror continues to spill innocent blood on Indian soil, the moral and practical foundation of such agreements will remain fragile. The time has come for the global community to recognize that enduring peace in South Asia demands accountability, not appeasement.
