India Pakistan Business Water Treaty

India Pakistan Business Treaty!

At the start of the year, after the Pahalgam incident, India chose a different path. Instead of taking any step against Pakistan, it once again extended a helping hand to its so-called “enemy.” A timely alert from New Delhi saved nearly 150,000 lives in Pakistan.

For several days, heavy rainfall has lashed the northern regions. This forced India to consider releasing water from several major dams. Such action raised the risk of a Jammu Tawi flood that could have caused massive devastation in Pakistan. Out of humanitarian concern, India issued an alert to Pakistan for flood well in advance, highlighting the importance of the India Pakistan Business Treaty in managing cross-border river systems.

Despite the warning, relentless rains in the northern areas killed more than 800 people in Pakistan. The situation shows the severity of the flood in Pakistan today, which continues to destroy lives and property.

River System Between India and Pakistan

Continuous heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir may soon force India to release water from multiple dams. The Tawi River originates in the Himalayas and flows into Pakistan. It joins the Chenab, which later merges with the Indus. This means water released from India’s dams directly impacts Pakistan.

Because of this, New Delhi’s Foreign Ministry issued repeated warnings to Pakistan on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Each alert highlighted the risk of a flood in Pakistan.

PTI reports that India has already prepared to open several dam gates due to excess water. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army is evacuating people from low-lying areas near the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers.

India’s Diplomatic Measures After Pahalgam Attack

After the Pahalgam terror attack, India took strong diplomatic steps against Pakistan. It closed the Attari check-post, canceled visas for Pakistani citizens, and suspended the India Pakistan Sindhu river agreement.

India even declared that it would not starve Pakistan by stopping food. Instead, it warned that it could “drown them with water.”

The Indus Water Treaty 1960 Between India and Pakistan

In 1960, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru signed the Indus Water Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan. Talks had dragged on for nearly nine years before the deal. Finally, with the World Bank’s mediation, both nations agreed on water sharing.

Although borders divided India and Pakistan, the rivers still flowed across them. Six major rivers connect the two countries. The treaty placed all of them under shared rules. According to the agreement, India gained rights to the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi. Pakistan received the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

The treaty contains 12 articles and 8 annexures. Experts still call it one of the most detailed water-sharing agreements in the world. Even during conflicts, the Indus Water Treaty continues to bind India and Pakistan.