In the annals of international relations, few agreements have been able to withstand the test of time and conflict like the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The treaty, signed in 1960 between Pakistan and India, managed to endure wars, political upheavals and decades of fragile relations between the two bordering nuclear-armed nations.
The IWT has shown its strength by being a beacon of endurance and hope in Indo-Pak relations.
Yet this symbol of endurance is facing its most crucial moment as India has decided to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty following a deadly terrorist attack on Indian tourists in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) region of Pahalgam.
Genesis of a lifeline
The Indus is not just a river, it is an identity. An identity of millions whose lifeline depends on its flow and consumption. The river predates the formation of both states and has historic value.
This helps in sustaining agriculture, livelihood, and ecosystems in Pakistan and India. Originating in Tibet, the river traverses through the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, flowing into Pakistan and eventually emptying into the Arabian Sea.
According to Climate-Diplomacy, approximately 90% of Pakistan’s food production is linked to agriculture and animal husbandry, which rely on the Indus River. The Indus also aids in the irrigation networks in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.
Water relations before IWT
India and Pakistan had no shared water treaty before the formation of the Indus Waters Treaty. The boundary commission, headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, did not make any serious effort to establish a water sharing agreement between India and Pakistan; instead, it opted for the newly created states to resolve the issue themselves.
Water politics wasn’t a cause of concern in the early days of partition, but the issue was highlighted when the East Punjab province of India chopped off the water supply to the West Punjab province of Pakistan in April 1948, culminating towards a water crisis for Pakistan.
India’s actions prompted the need to form a structured water treaty between the two nations, which could guarantee Pakistan’s water supply from the Indus.
The rise of the Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty was not formed in a day’s work, it took years of technical, diplomatic and political expertise for its formation. The treaty was initially signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi.
Pakistan was represented by its President Mohammad Ayub Khan and India by its Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with the World Bank (then commonly known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) acting as a mediator and broker to the treaty.
The treaty survived three major wars and decades of diplomatic tensions and political upheaval until India decided to suspend it unilaterally.
Salient Features of the IWT:
The treaty includes a preamble, 12 articles (I-XII) and eight annexes. The treaty is binding between its parties (Pakistan and India).
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Article II grants India exclusive rights over the Indus’ eastern rivers (Ravi, Sutlej, Beas)
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Article III grants Pakistan rights over the western rivers ( Indus, Jhelum and Chenab ) of the Indus.
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Article XII(4) states that the provisions of the Treaty shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two Governments.
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Article VIII establishes the Permanent Indus Commission.
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Article IX provides a mechanism for resolving disputes and differences between the parties.
Timeline: Key events in Indus Waters Treaty history
| Year / Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Partition of British India |
| April 1, 1948 | Water withholding begins |
| May 4, 1948 | Interim Accord |
| 1951 | Pakistan approaches UN |
| 1960 | Treaty signed |
| 1965 | Indo-Pak war |
| 1971 | Indo-Pak war |
| 1999 | Kargil war |
| 2001 | India parliament attack |
| 2008 | Mumbai attacks |
| 2016 | Uri attack |
| 2019 | Pulwama attack |
| 2019 | Kashmir’s special status revoked |
| 2025 (April 23) | Pahalgam attack |
The fall of the Indus Waters Treaty?
The breaking point for the treaty came with the tragic attack in the Pahalgam region of IIOJK, which resulted in the death of more than two dozen tourists.
India, without launching any formal investigation or presenting any evidence, accused Pakistan of facilitating the attack, labelling it as an act of cross-border terrorism.
Despite Pakistan’s condemnation of the attack, India suspended the IWT, marking a significant departure from decades of successful water diplomacy.
However, despite India’s unilateral actions, the treaty’s provisions suggest measures for the termination or suspension of the treaty and a state mechanism for resolving disputes between the signatories.
Several experts and diplomats including Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India (2014-2017), believe that there are no immediate diplomatic problems for Pakistan especially with regards to the cancellation of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Over the long term, India’s suspension will have devastating consequences for Pakistan, which is already facing water insecurity.
The Indus helps Pakistan in sustaining its agriculture and economy. It is also deeply embedded in Pakistan’s cultural, historical and spiritual identity, especially in Sindh. The I in Pakistan significantly denotes Indus and is mentioned in the country’s folk traditions, Sufism and music.
The treaty maintained its significance by being one of the most successful water treaties in the world despite fragile Indo-Pak relations.
As tensions between India and Pakistan rise, safeguarding the Indus and the IWT remains vital not just for Pakistan’s stability, but for the preservation of a shared heritage that transcends borders.
