India to freeze talks with Pakistan on Indus waters

India to freeze talks with Pakistan on Indus waters

 

Context:

Recently, India has sought to renegotiate the 64-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakisthan,  citing new challenges and changing circumstances. But, both nations are facing a diplomatic deadlock with no recent meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC).

 

Relevance:
GS02 (India and its neighbourhood)

 

Key Developments:

• No response from Pakistan: India has been inviting Pakistan ever since January 2023, to conclude talks on the Indus Water Treaty. However, no satisfactory response has been received from Pakistan yet.
• Suspension of PIC Meetings: No further meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) will be held until both the governments meet.

(Note: The last PIC meeting took place in Delhi in May 2022).

• Significance of the PIC: The PIC is a crucial mechanism under the IWT, facilitating discussions between Indian and Pakistani commissioners on water-sharing issues and hydropower projects. The commission has functioned even during wars and disputes between the two countries.

 

India’s Reasons for Renegotiation:

• Demographic Changes: Ever since the treaty was signed in the year 1960, both nations have developed and a significant population growth has been witnessed on both sides.
• Environmental Concerns: Much needed is the need for clean energy development to meet India’s emission targets. The development of hydropower projects on the Himalayan rivers shared by India and Pakistan is crucial for producing renewable energy.
• Cross-Border Terrorism: Persistent security issues affecting the implementation of the treaty. Incidents of terrorism from Pakistan into India have strained bilateral relations, affecting cooperation on various aspects of the treaty, such as the construction of hydropower projects and dispute resolution processes
• Dispute Resolution Mechanism: The existing framework may not be sufficient to handle the complexities of water-sharing disputes in a timely and effective manner. India seeks to revise and improve this mechanism to ensure quicker resolutions and more effective conflict management, especially given the evolving geopolitical and environmental context.

 

Indus Water Treaty (IWT) Overview:

• The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed by India and Pakistan in September 1960.
• It was signed after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank as a signatory.
• It established cooperation on the use of water from the Indus River and its tributaries—Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab.

 

Key Provisions:

• Water Sharing: The treaty divides the rivers: Pakistan has rights over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) for unrestricted use, while India has control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej). Pakistan receives 80% of the total water.
• Permanent Indus Commission: Both countries set up a Permanent Indus Commission with commissioners from each side, required to meet annually.
• Rights Over Rivers: While Pakistan controls the western rivers, India is allowed some agricultural use (Annexure C) and can construct run-of-the-river hydropower projects (Annexure D) without water storage.
• Dispute Resolution: The treaty provides a three-step dispute resolution mechanism. Issues can be raised in the commission, escalated to a Neutral Expert appointed by the World Bank, and eventually referred to a Court of Arbitration for unresolved disputes.