Indus Waters Treaty / Peace Treaty (1960)
The treaty was signed on 19 September 1960 in Karachi by:
- Ayub Khan (Pakistan)
- Jawaharlal Nehru (India)
with the World Bank acting as a mediator and guarantor.
Purpose of the Treaty
The treaty was created to peacefully divide and manage the waters of the Indus River system after the partition of British India in 1947.
Water disputes had become serious because rivers crossed the new borders between India and Pakistan.
Division of Rivers
The treaty divided the six major rivers of the Indus Basin into:
Eastern Rivers → Given mainly to India
- Ravi
- Beas
- Sutlej
Western Rivers → Given mainly to Pakistan
- Indus
- Jhelum
- Chenab
India can use western rivers for:
- limited irrigation
- domestic use
- hydroelectric projects
but cannot significantly reduce or divert water flow to Pakistan.
Importance
The treaty is considered one of the world’s most successful water-sharing agreements because it has survived:
- wars between India and Pakistan
- political crises
- military conflicts
for more than six decades.
Key Features
- Permanent Indus Commission established
- Data sharing between countries
- Dispute resolution system
- World Bank involvement in arbitration
Challenges Today
The treaty now faces pressure from:
- climate change
- population growth
- increasing water demand
- new hydroelectric projects
- political tensions between India and Pakistan
Despite disputes, the treaty still remains active today.
Indus River Maps
