Indus Water Treaty

The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan signed on September 19, 1960. The treaty was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan. It was brokered by the World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).

According to treaty, all the water of
eastern rivers shall be available for unrestricted use in India.
India should let unrestricted flow of water from western rivers to Pakistan.
It doesn’t mean that India can’t use western river’s water. The treaty says that India can use the water in western rivers in “non-consumptive” needs. Here non consumptive means we can use it for irrigation, storage and even for electricity production. (But India has not fully utilized this provision so far).
The treaty allocates 80% of water from the six-river Indus water system to Pakistan.
A Permanent Indus Commission was set up as a bilateral commission to implement and manage the Treaty.
Though Indus originates from Tibet, China has been kept out of the Treaty.
India-Pak Disputes Connecting Indus: Timeline
1948: India cuts off supply in most canals that went to Pakistan. But restores it later.
1951: Pakistan accuses India of cutting water to many of its villages.
1954: Word Bank comes up with a water-sharing formula for two countries.
1960: Indus Waters Treaty signed.
1970’s: India starts building hydropower projects in Kashmir. Pakistan raises concern.
1984: Pakistan objects over India building Tulbul barrage on Jhelum. India stops it unilaterally.
2007: Pakistan raises concern over Kishanganga hydroelectric plant.
2008: Lashkar-e-Taiba starts campaign against India. Its chief Hafiz Saeed accuses India of water terrorism.
2010: Pakistan accuses India of choking water supply consistently.
2016: India reviews working of Indus Waters Treaty linking it with cross-border terrorism (Uri attack).