UPSC Mains 2016 GS1 Q18: The Indus Water Treaty — Ecological, Economic & Political Implications

India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960, brokered by the World Bank. It divides the six-river Indus system between the two countries.

India got exclusive use of the three eastern rivers: Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Pakistan got the three western rivers: Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, with India retaining limited use rights.

India can use the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes: irrigation on a limited scale, and run-of-the-river hydroelectric power. It cannot store or divert them at scale.

The treaty predates modern environmental frameworks, so it says little about ecological flows or climate change. Both countries now face pressure to address river health, not just allocation.

The western rivers are central to Pakistan’s agriculture, since they irrigate most of Punjab and Sindh. Any disruption carries direct food-security consequences for Pakistan.

India has developed run-of-the-river projects like Baglihar and Kishanganga on the western rivers, within treaty limits. These projects have repeatedly triggered Pakistani objections and treaty disputes.

The treaty created a Permanent Indus Commission, plus escalation paths to a Neutral Expert and a Court of Arbitration. This structure has kept the treaty functioning through multiple India-Pakistan conflicts.

India placed the treaty in abeyance after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, citing Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. This marked the treaty’s first major suspension since 1960.

The treaty is often cited as a rare example of sustained India-Pakistan cooperation, having survived three wars before 2025. Its survival reflected both World Bank guarantee mechanisms and mutual dependence on the river system.

Explain the 1960 river-division mechanics, then assess ecological, economic, and political consequences in turn, closing with the 2025 abeyance as the treaty’s biggest current stress test.