Indus Water Treaty
Title: The Indus Waters Treaty: A Model of Water Cooperation Amid Tension Introduction Water has long been a source of both conflict and cooperation across the globe. Among the most notable examples of transboundary water agreements is the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—a 1960 accord between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank. Despite wars, military stand-offs, and ongoing political tension between the two nations, this treaty has remarkably endured, often cited as a model of successful water conflict resolution. Background The Indus River system originates in Tibet and flows through India and Pakistan before reaching the Arabian Sea. It comprises six main rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Post-partition in 1947, the control and distribution of these rivers became a point of serious contention between the newly formed countries. In 1960, after nearly a decade of negotiations, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty, with the World Bank acting as a ...