The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) is an agreement between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, that regulates the use of water from the six rivers of the Indus Basin. Under the treaty, India controls the waters of the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, while Pakistan has control over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
The treaty grants Pakistan the right to use these rivers for irrigation and other agricultural needs, ensuring that the flow of water to Pakistan remains uninterrupted. However, India retains the right to use the waters for power generation and other non-consumptive purposes, subject to restrictions laid out in the treaty. Following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India’s decision to suspend the treaty has raised concerns about escalating tensions over water resources between the two nations.