Hindu Editorial Analysis : 8-November-2024

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, is a landmark agreement aimed at managing the shared waters of the Indus River system. Although it has been a vital tool for cooperation between the two nations, recent geopolitical and environmental changes have led to calls for modifications. The complexities involved in renegotiating the treaty must be carefully examined, especially from the perspectives of both India and Pakistan.

Background of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

The IWT was brokered by the World Bank to address the water-sharing issues between India and Pakistan after the 1947 partition. The Indus River system, which flows through both countries, was divided in a way that created ongoing disputes over its use. The failure of earlier agreements, like the 1948 Inter-Dominion Accord, led to the involvement of the World Bank and the eventual signing of the IWT in 1960.

How the IWT Works

The IWT established the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), which is tasked with managing the treaty’s implementation and resolving disputes. The Commission meets regularly to ensure both countries comply with the treaty and address issues as they arise.

India’s Perspective: A Need for Modification

India has recently sought changes to the treaty for several reasons:

  • Increased Demands: Since 1960, India’s population and agricultural needs have grown, leading to a higher demand for water.
  • Hydropower Projects: India wishes to accelerate the construction of hydropower projects on the western rivers (which the treaty allows) but faces objections from Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Concerns: Ensuring Water Security

As the lower riparian country, Pakistan heavily depends on the Indus River for its water supply:

  • Water Flow: Pakistan is concerned that any changes could reduce the water available to it, threatening its agriculture and water security.
  • Hydropower Projects: Pakistan fears that India’s hydropower projects may disrupt the water flow to its territory, impacting its agricultural economy.

Current Challenges and Tensions

Several challenges complicate the IWT today:

  • Hydropower Disputes: India’s ongoing hydropower projects on the western rivers have led to disagreements. While India insists these projects comply with the treaty, Pakistan believes they affect water flow.
  • Technical Disputes: The countries have different interpretations of treaty provisions, especially regarding the construction of hydroelectric plants.
  • Political Tensions: With strained diplomatic relations, it has become harder to resolve technical disputes, as trust is minimal.
  • Climate Change: Altered rainfall patterns and glacial melt due to climate change are complicating the management of water resources, threatening the long-term sustainability of the Indus Basin.

Renegotiating the Treaty: Challenges and Prospects

Given the growing water needs and the changing political climate, India has proposed modifying the treaty. However, such changes are fraught with difficulty.

Arguments for Modifying the IWT
  • Addressing Modern Challenges: The IWT may not be fully equipped to handle contemporary issues like climate change, population growth, and new technological advancements.
  • Water Security: Modifications could help India better secure its water interests, considering its growing needs for agriculture and hydropower.
Risks of Modifying the IWT
  • Escalating Tensions: Any changes to the treaty could be seen as a unilateral action by India, which might increase tensions between the two countries.
  • Political Sensitivity: Water is a highly sensitive issue in both nations. Modifying the treaty could provoke domestic resistance and make it harder to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

Why In News

Recent geopolitical tensions, along with environmental shifts such as climate change and water scarcity, have prompted calls for the modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). These changes have highlighted the complexities and challenges involved in renegotiating the IWT, particularly as both India and Pakistan face growing water demands and divergent priorities, requiring careful consideration of the perspectives and interests of both nations.

MCQs about The Indus Waters Treaty: A Critical Water-sharing Agreement

  1. What was the primary purpose of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) signed in 1960?
    A. To resolve border disputes between India and Pakistan
    B. To share and manage the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan
    C. To promote trade between India and Pakistan
    D. To regulate fishing rights in the Indus River
    Correct Answer: B. To share and manage the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan
    Explanation: The primary purpose of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was to establish a framework for sharing and managing the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. The treaty was signed in 1960 to address the growing water-sharing disputes between the two nations following the partition of British India in 1947.
  2. What has been one of the main reasons India seeks modifications to the Indus Waters Treaty?
    A. To reduce the amount of water flowing to Pakistan
    B. To allow for more hydropower projects on the western rivers
    C. To increase water flow to Pakistan for irrigation
    D. To end the role of the World Bank in the treaty
    Correct Answer: B. To allow for more hydropower projects on the western rivers
    Explanation: India’s push for modifying the Indus Waters Treaty is primarily driven by the desire to expand its hydropower projects on the western rivers (which are allowed under the treaty). These projects have faced objections from Pakistan, which fears that they could impact water flow into its territory.
  3. What is a key concern of Pakistan regarding potential modifications to the IWT?
    A. The need for more trade agreements with India
    B. A reduction in the water flow from the western rivers
    C. A loss of agricultural land due to flooding
    D. The regulation of fishing in the Indus River system
    Correct Answer: B. A reduction in the water flow from the western rivers
    Explanation: As the lower riparian country, Pakistan is primarily concerned that any modifications to the IWT could result in reduced water flow from the western rivers, which are vital for its agriculture and water security. This is a key issue driving Pakistan’s opposition to any changes to the treaty.
  4. Which of the following factors adds complexity to the management of the Indus River system today?
    A. Increased trade between India and Pakistan
    B. Political stability between the two countries
    C. Climate change, including altered rainfall patterns
    D. The construction of new bridges over the Indus River
    Correct Answer: C. Climate change, including altered rainfall patterns
    Explanation: Climate change is one of the key factors that complicates the management of the Indus River system. Altered rainfall patterns, glacial melt, and shifting weather conditions are all contributing to the unpredictability of water availability, which the Indus Waters Treaty was not designed to address when it was signed in 1960.

Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions

Loading