After the major terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, the Indian government has taken a tough stand against Pakistan. Following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs announced that the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan has been suspended. Additionally, Pakistanis have been ordered to leave India within 48 hours, their visas have been cancelled, and the Attari border has been decided to be closed.
Let’s understand: What is the Indus Waters Treaty?
The Indus Waters Treaty is a historic water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, signed in 1960. It was signed by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the President of Pakistan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, with the World Bank acting as a mediator. The main aim of the treaty was to resolve any disputes between India and Pakistan regarding the sharing of the Indus river system in a peaceful manner.
The Indus river system consists of six major rivers:
- Indus
- Jhelum
- Chenab
- Ravi
- Beas
- Sutlej
Water distribution under the treaty:
- Western Rivers: Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan.
- Eastern Rivers: Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej were allocated to India.
India is allowed limited usage of western rivers for:
- Irrigation
- Domestic use
- Hydropower generation (without storing water)
What will be the impact on Pakistan?
This is the first time India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. Around 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural irrigation depends on the Indus river system. The suspension of the treaty could trigger a severe water crisis in Pakistan, greatly affecting its agriculture. Moreover, several hydropower projects in Pakistan are based on the Indus River, and reduced water flow could impact their electricity generation, deepening the existing energy crisis. Additionally, millions of people in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh regions depend on the Indus river system for drinking water.