Indus Waters Treaty (1960)
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan, with the World Bank as a mediator and guarantor. It is considered one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements in the world, having survived two wars and numerous crises between the two countries.
- Division of rivers: Three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) allocated to India; three Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) allocated to Pakistan
- India received approximately 20% of the total water carried by the Indus system; Pakistan received approximately 80%
- India may use the Western Rivers for limited purposes: domestic use, non-consumptive use (run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects), and limited agricultural use as specified in Annexures C, D, and E of the Treaty
- The Treaty established a Permanent Indus Commission, with one Commissioner from each country, mandated to meet annually
- Dispute resolution: a three-tier mechanism — questions resolved by the Commission; failing which, a Neutral Expert; failing which, a Court of Arbitration
- India suspended the Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack (April 22, 2025), invoking the fundamental change of circumstances doctrine
● Tracked since February 10, 2026 · last seen August 31, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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