Why Was the Indus Waters Treaty
Needed Between India and Pakistan?
Introduction
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is an agreement between India and Pakistan concluded on 19 September 1960, with the World Bank as the signatory. The agreement was compulsory to the governments because the independent provinces of British India had shared an apportioned, integrated irrigation system, which continued to exist after the independence. Thus, any changes to the status quo could severely impact the food security of Pakistan and jeopardize the socio-economic development of the newly formed states.
1. Partition Divided an Integrated Irrigation System
Prior to independence, the six rivers – Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej – were connected by an integrated irrigation network that provided water to over 21,000 square kilometers of farmlands. The system consisted of 6 main rivers, hundreds of distributaries, numerous headworks, and over 100 canals throughout the region. This system of interlinked water bodies was constructed without considering the future national borders and river management policies. As a consequence, when the states of India and Pakistan announced their independence, a certain number of headworks and canals were located entirely within the Indian administration, while others straddled the border.
2. Pakistan’s Agriculture Was Heavily Dependent on Indus Basin
When India and Pakistan gained independence on 15 August 1947, over 80% of the newly formed Islamic Republic’s farmlands were irrigated by the Indus river system. Moreover, the agriculture sector accounted for the most significant portion of the national income for both countries. Consequently, the disruption of agricultural production could result in large-scale famine, political unrest, and social chaos. On the other hand, a dependable supply of water could alleviate the food crisis and contribute to economic growth, primarily in rural regions.
3. The 1948 Water Crisis Demonstrated the Interconnectivity of the Rivers
On 1 April 1948, the Ferozepur Headworks, which diverted waters from the Sutlej and Ravi rivers, was closed by the Indian administration. The Ferozepur Headworks supplied water to the Dipalpur canals and Madhopur Headworks to the Upper Bari Doab, thus their closure deprived Pakistan of its agricultural water supply. Although the dispute was resolved in May 1948, the crisis identified the potential threat to the water security of millions and the necessity to adopt a long-term, binding resolution.
4. A Formal Agreement Would Help Establish Legal Precedents
Since many of the headworks and canals were located on the international borders, a treaty was necessary to apportion the waters of the six rivers, establish the rights and duties of the basins’ states, and facilitate the communication process. Additionally, the agreement could standardize the dispute resolution mechanism and serve as a reference for future international water-related treaties.
5. The Indus Waters Treaty Was Designed to Prevent Hostilities Between
Two Nuclear States
Although the nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan had yet to be developed in 1960, the relations between the two states had been complicated by the partition, the Kashmir conflict, and the mass migrations of approximately 13 million people per region. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that water-related disagreements could inflict greater political damage than territorial ones.
6. The Treaty Enabled Both Nations to Fund New Infrastructure
Development Projects
Both nations had numerous engineering and irrigation projects that required significant financial investments. Since they were in dire need of resources, a formal agreement that established a predictable river management regime would enable them to attract international aid in good time. For instance, under the Indus Basin Development Fund, Pakistan constructed the Mangla and Tarbela Dams, Chashma Barrage, Rasul–Qadirabad, Qadirabad-Balloki, and Balloki-Suleimanki link canals, and Trimmu-Sidhnai link canal.
7. The Allocation of Rivers Established the Rights and Limits
of Usage for Both Nations
According to the IWT, the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) were allocated to India, whereas the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) were assigned to Pakistan. India was granted limited permissions to use the waters of the western rivers for domestic and agricultural purposes, as well as for run-of-the-river power stations. On the other hand, Pakistan could utilize the waters of the eastern rivers for municipal, agricultural, and industrial water supplies.
8. A Permanent Indus Commission Ensured Technical Cooperation
Between the Countries
The treaty enabled the creation of the permanent technical commission, which serves as the primary authority for water-related affairs in the region. The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) has several duties, including the collection and analysis of hydrological data, negotiation of technical matters, annual meetings, inspections of the infrastructure, etc. Additionally, the commission acts as an advisory body to the governments of Pakistan and India and facilitates the dispute resolution process. Hence, disagreements between the riparian states could be resolved before becoming full-scale political conflicts.
9. The Indus Waters Treaty Was Also Beneficial for India
Although the treaty primarily served Pakistan, India derived considerable benefits from it. First, the agreement secured the rights to the eastern rivers for the newly formed nation. Second, the apportionment of the rivers allowed India to fund the construction of large-scale engineering projects, as well as the creation of the Bhakra–Nangal system. Furthermore, the IWT served as a guarantor of stability for the region while being a critical condition for Pakistan’s socio-economic development, thus minimizing the risks of political interference and bilateral disputes.
10. Pakistan Gained Greater Economic Stability and Water Security
As the newly independent state, Pakistan needed international support to stabilize its domestic markets, avert food shortages, and establish long-standing economic growth. The creation of the Pakistan-India Indus Waters Treaty fulfilled these objectives, as it secured the supply of water from the western rivers to Pakistan, as well as allowed the country to attract international financial aid to construct infrastructure for their irrigation systems. The dispute over the eastern rivers, which were administered by India, was resolved to ensure both countries’ agricultural production and water security.
11. Was the Indus Water Treaty Really Compulsory?
The treaty was not compulsory from the juridical perspective because none of the international laws obliged Pakistan and India to formalize this agreement. Instead, the states were free to consider other options, such as the possibility of the joint administration of the rivers, the apportionment of the costs and responsibilities, or the implementation of the independent policies. However, from the pragmatic perspective, the agreement was indeed inevitable due to multiple factors. The most apparent pressure was the interconnectivity of the irrigation system, which was shared by the regions with the Indian dominion. Moreover, since the majority of Pakistan’s agricultural lands relied on the rivers, their disruption could cause nationwide famine and social instability. Furthermore, the conflict between the countries and the 1948 crisis demonstrated that without an appropriate legislative framework, political disagreements would undermine the water security of the region. Finally, both nations required international financial support for the creation of new infrastructure, which could be provided under the conditions of a formal agreement.
Conclusion
The Indus Waters Treaty was a pivotal agreement for the states of Pakistan and India, who had shared an integrated irrigation network. When the British left the South Asian region, they divided the river system between the newly independent states, thereby creating opportunities for frequent geopolitical and hydro-political confrontations. The treaty, which came into force in 1960, apportioned the rivers between Pakistan and India, established the rules for water usage, facilitated the resolution of disputes, and enabled the nations to fund the construction of new infrastructure projects. Despite being several decades old, it continues to serve its purpose, ensuring the water security of millions of people and functioning as one of the longest-standing treaties between the two neighboring countries.
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