“A Bilateral Framework for

Sustainable Water
Management”

•Name of
presenters:
• Dheeraj Kumar
• Laksh
• Rohan Raj
Maheshwari
• Tayyab Munib Ur
Rehman
• Ahsan Ali
 INTRODUCTION:

Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan.

Brokered by the world bank.
Aimed at peaceful sharing of Indus river.
Involves 6 major rivers flowing through both
countries.
Crucial for agriculture, economy, and regional
peace.
 INDUS RIVER:

Originates in Tibet and

Length is
flows through India
Approximately 3,180
and Pakistan into the
km (1,976 miles).
Arabian Sea.

Basin supports over

Carries around 207
300 million people
billion cubic meters
across China, India,
(BCM) of water per
Pakistan, and
year.
Afghanistan.

Tributaries include the

Jhelum, Chenab,
Ravi, Beas, and
Sutlej—forming the
core of the Indus River
System.
 MAP OF
INDUS RIVER:
 The principal rivers of the Indus River system
are snow-fed.

HYDROLOGY The Indus River's flow is seasonal—lowest in

OF THE winter, rising in spring, and peaking with
floods during the monsoon.
INDUS
RIVER: Annually, the upper Indus carries about 26.5
cubic miles (110 cubic km)—slightly less than
half the total supply of water in the Indus
River system.
Jhelum and Chenab combined carry roughly
one-fourth, and the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej
combined constitute the remainder of the
total supply of the system.
 Partition (1947) split the Indus River system
between India and Pakistan without an
agreement.
In 1948 India halted flow to Pakistan, causing
agricultural disruption and protests.

PRE-TREATY India resumed flow, but no permanent

resolution was found.
CONFLICTS
(BEFORE 1960): Continued disputes over river usage led both
countries to seek World Bank mediation.

Water-related disputes deepened the political

divide, contributing to the instability in the
region.
 The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-
distribution treaty between Pakistan and India
negotiated by world bank to use the water in
Indus river.
It was signed in Karachi on 19 September
1960 by Indian prime minister Jawaharlal
Nehru and Pakistani president Ayub khan.
INDUS WATER
The treaty allocates the Eastern Rivers (Ravi,
TREATY: Beas, Sutlej) to India, and the Western Rivers
(Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, with
specific usage rights for both countries.
Despite multiple conflicts between India and
Pakistan, the treaty has remained in effect for
over six decades, making it one of the most
enduring international water-sharing
agreements.
 Eastern rivers were allotted to India; western
rivers to Pakistan with limited Indian use like
fishing, navigation etc.
India continued supplying water to Pakistan
for 10 years to support infrastructure
development.
CORE ELEMENTS India paid £62 million; additional funding
OF THE INDUS came from the World Bank and international
WATERS TREATY: donors.
A joint body was established to ensure
cooperation, data sharing, and routine
dispute resolution.
India can use western rivers for non-
consumptive purposes under strict conditions.
 Both countries must regularly share
water flow, reservoir, and project data.

Disputes are resolved through talks,

OPERATIONAL neutral experts, or arbitration, in that
order.
TERMS AND
Acts as a facilitator and appoints
INSTITUTIONAL experts but does not judge disputes.
ROLES
Pakistan built dams with aid; India can
build limited hydro projects on western
rivers.
The treaty is binding, overrides national
laws, and continues until mutually
changed.
 PERMANENT
INDUS
COMMISSION:
Establishment: Created under the
treaty to oversee its implementation.

Composition: Comprises a
commissioner from each country.
Functions: Facilitates communication,
monitors water usage, and resolves
disputes.
Annual Meetings: Regular meetings to
discuss issues and share data.

Dispute Resolution: Serves as the first

forum for resolving conflicts.
 Appoint neutral to resolve the dispute technically.

Establishment of Court of Arbitration for legal

disputes.

DISPUTE
World bank act as a facilitator but does not have
RESOLUTION authority to make decision.
MECHANISMS:
The treaty provides a system — starting with bilateral
talks, then a Neutral Expert, and finally international
arbitration, encouraging peaceful resolution at each
stage.
Neutral Expert's and Court of Arbitration’s decisions
are final and binding, ensuring that the outcomes are
respected by both.
 Treaty executed with technical
support from the World Bank.
Pakistan built storage and
diversion infrastructure.
IMMEDIATE
IMPLEMENTATION Mangla and Tarbela dams were
(1960S–1970S): constructed.
Both nations began adapting
their agricultural systems.
Implementation faced minimal
resistance in early years.
 Treaty survived multiple wars
(1965, 1971, Kargil 1999).
Maintained water cooperation
despite poor bilateral ties.
POLITICAL &
DIPLOMATIC Regarded internationally as a
RELATIONS: successful conflict-resolution
model.
Periodic tensions but no treaty
abrogation.
Used as a confidence-building
mechanism between nations.
 India built small hydroelectric
projects on western rivers.
INDIA’S Projects include Baglihar,
UTILIZATION Kishanganga, and Ratle dams.
OF
WESTERN These raised Pakistan’s
RIVERS: concerns about water flow
control.
India asserts it operates within
treaty guidelines.
Water used is non-consumptive
(run-of-the-river).
 2005: Baglihar referred to World
Bank-appointed neutral expert.
2013: Kishanganga case brought
to Permanent Court of Arbitration.
DISPUTES AND
ARBITRATION Rulings favored India with
modifications for Pakistan’s
CASES:
concerns.
Pakistan often argues for stricter
interpretations of treaty clauses.
Arbitration has prevented
escalation of conflicts.
 Established for dispute
resolution and data sharing.
Annual meetings maintain
dialogue even in tense periods.
ROLE OF THE Joint site visits and inspections
INDUS WATERS of infrastructure.
COMMISSION:
Platform for technical
cooperation and
communication.
Increasing demand for more
transparent data practices.
 Expansion of irrigation in
Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh.
Eastern India saw improved
water security for agriculture.
HYDROLOGICAL
& AGRICULTURAL Reduced dependence on
IMPACTS: monsoons in both countries.
Shift from rain-fed to irrigated
farming systems.
Support for green revolution
strategies in both regions.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:

Large dams have changed how water flows downstream.

Mud and sand buildup is reducing water storage in Pakistan.

River ecosystems are harmed by controlled water flows.

Using too much water for farming is lowering groundwater

levels.
Changing climate is making river flows harder to predict.
 Improves strategic ties with
neighboring countries via waterway
agreements.
Provides access for landlocked states
to international shipping routes.
GEOPOLITICAL
Aligns with India’s Act East Policy for
AND REGIONAL greater regional integration.
IMPACT:
Enhances cooperation through
BIMSTEC and BBIN initiatives.

Counters strategic influence from

foreign infrastructure initiatives like
China's BRI.
 Rapid population growth is
increasing the need for water.
WATER Growing cities are shrinking areas
SCARCITY where rainwater can soak into the
AND ground.
Too much watering in some areas is
POPULATION causing waterlogging and waste.
GROWTH:
The amount of water available per
person has gone down a lot.

We urgently need better and fairer

ways to manage water use.
 Kishanganga Project: India diverted river
water; Pakistan objected; resolved with
minimum flow conditions by Court of
Arbitration.
Ratle Project: Pakistan challenged design on
Chenab River; currently under international
VIOLATIONS arbitration.

& Baglihar Dam: Design disputed by Pakistan;

Neutral Expert ruled in India's favor with
DISPUTES: minor changes.
Salal Dam: Pakistan raised flooding
concerns; resolved through bilateral talks.

Pakal Dul & Lower Kalnai Projects:

Pakistan raised objections; no formal
resolution yet.
 After the Uri attack, India considered revisiting
the treaty, signaling possible changes in water-
sharing terms.
In 2017, the World Bank paused arbitration to
mediate between India and Pakistan,
attempting to resolve disputes.
RECENT Rising political tensions between the two
CHALLENGES countries are impacting cooperation on water-
(POST-2010): sharing, further complicating the situation.
In the wake of the Pulwama attack, India
threatened to restrict water flow to Pakistan,
escalating tensions and concerns over treaty
violations.
After the Pahalgam attack India suspended
water treaty with Pakistan.
 Water is now part of national
security agendas.
STRATEGIC Climate stress could turn water
AND into a future conflict source.
SECURITY
DIMENSION Treaty prevents unilateral
S: actions through legal
mechanisms.
Questions arise over treaty’s
adaptability to new threats.
Need for regional water
diplomacy frameworks.
STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE
OUTLOOK:

Organize joint training Set up special inland

Use modern technology
between transport and centers to manage and
to better watch and track
defense teams for better respond to waterway
boats and ships.
security. issues.

Build strong, weather-

Work with nearby
resistant infrastructure
countries to create
that can’t be easily
shared rules and safety
damaged or tampered
measures for waterways.
with.
 CONCLUSION:
The treaty divided Indus River waters between
India and Pakistan.

It set up a system to solve water issues

peacefully, like the Permanent Indus
Commission.
India paused the treaty after Pahalgam
attack, citing national security.

Pakistan warned any water diversion could be

seen as an "act of war."

Experts urge both countries to restart talks

and protect long-term water cooperation.