Following the pahalgam terrorist assault, which claimed 26 lives and injured several more, the government of prime minister Narendra Modi outlined several actions it has chosen to take against pakistan on wednesday night. Following a meeting at PM Modi's official residence when the cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) noted the cross-border terror connections with pakistan, these actions were declared.
The suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with immediate effect until "Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism" was one of the five major retaliatory measures against pakistan that the CCS declared.
What is the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960?
An legal agreement between india and pakistan on the distribution of water from the indus river system is known as the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of india, and Ayub Khan, the President of pakistan, signed the treaty on september 19, 1960, following nine years of negotiations between the two countries, with assistance from the World Bank.
According to the treaty, india was given the easter Rivers and pakistan the Western Rivers. Additionally, the treaty permits each nation to use the rivers that are allotted to it in specific ways. The pact provides precise rules for the fair distribution of the river and its tributaries. The full text of the Indus Waters Treaty is available here.
What was the need for IWT?
The indus river system became a possible source of war during India's 1947 partition because it flowed across both nations, starting in tibet and hitting china and afghanistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea. When india momentarily halted the water flow in 1948, pakistan went to the UN. The World bank intervened to mediate after the UN recommended seeking assistance.
How is the water split between india and Pakistan?
The three eastern rivers—the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—are freely accessible to india, whereas the three western rivers—the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum—are primarily under Pakistani authority. pakistan owns the majority of the river system, although india is still permitted to use water from the western rivers for restricted purposes including agricultural, electricity production, and basic household needs.
India receives only 20% of the water from the system's rivers, whereas pakistan, a downstream nation, has access to about 80% of them. To resolve disputes between the two countries, the Permanent Indus Commission was established.
How will suspending the treaty affect Pakistan?
Pakistan's agricultural requirements, particularly in the provinces of punjab and Sindh, depend heavily on these rivers. pakistan also relies heavily on the river system for its water supply.
Pakistan's agricultural industry, which provides 68% of the country's rural residents with a living and accounts for 23% of its national income, would suffer if the water supply were cut off. According to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimate, the sector also employs 37–42% of the nation's workforce.
The indus river and its tributaries draw the majority of settlements, with punjab province being the most densely inhabited area, according to the report, which also stated that the Indus Basin is Pakistan's main aquifer.
Agriculture accounts for almost 70% of Pakistan's exports, either directly or indirectly. Approximately 47% of Pakistan's total land area is used for agriculture, which is more than the 38% global average. Over 82% of the area under cultivation is irrigated, with the remainder being rainfed.
It goes without saying that Pakistan's agriculture industry will be greatly impacted by any disruption in the water flow, which is likely to result in decreased crop yields, food shortages, and unstable economic conditions.
The suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with immediate effect until "Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism" was one of the five major retaliatory measures against pakistan that the CCS declared.
What is the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960?
An legal agreement between india and pakistan on the distribution of water from the indus river system is known as the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of india, and Ayub Khan, the President of pakistan, signed the treaty on september 19, 1960, following nine years of negotiations between the two countries, with assistance from the World Bank.
According to the treaty, india was given the easter Rivers and pakistan the Western Rivers. Additionally, the treaty permits each nation to use the rivers that are allotted to it in specific ways. The pact provides precise rules for the fair distribution of the river and its tributaries. The full text of the Indus Waters Treaty is available here.
What was the need for IWT?
The indus river system became a possible source of war during India's 1947 partition because it flowed across both nations, starting in tibet and hitting china and afghanistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea. When india momentarily halted the water flow in 1948, pakistan went to the UN. The World bank intervened to mediate after the UN recommended seeking assistance.
How is the water split between india and Pakistan?
The three eastern rivers—the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—are freely accessible to india, whereas the three western rivers—the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum—are primarily under Pakistani authority. pakistan owns the majority of the river system, although india is still permitted to use water from the western rivers for restricted purposes including agricultural, electricity production, and basic household needs.
India receives only 20% of the water from the system's rivers, whereas pakistan, a downstream nation, has access to about 80% of them. To resolve disputes between the two countries, the Permanent Indus Commission was established.
How will suspending the treaty affect Pakistan?
Pakistan's agricultural requirements, particularly in the provinces of punjab and Sindh, depend heavily on these rivers. pakistan also relies heavily on the river system for its water supply.
Pakistan's agricultural industry, which provides 68% of the country's rural residents with a living and accounts for 23% of its national income, would suffer if the water supply were cut off. According to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimate, the sector also employs 37–42% of the nation's workforce.
The indus river and its tributaries draw the majority of settlements, with punjab province being the most densely inhabited area, according to the report, which also stated that the Indus Basin is Pakistan's main aquifer.
Agriculture accounts for almost 70% of Pakistan's exports, either directly or indirectly. Approximately 47% of Pakistan's total land area is used for agriculture, which is more than the 38% global average. Over 82% of the area under cultivation is irrigated, with the remainder being rainfed.
It goes without saying that Pakistan's agriculture industry will be greatly impacted by any disruption in the water flow, which is likely to result in decreased crop yields, food shortages, and unstable economic conditions.
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