India seeks review of Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan

India has formally notified Pakistan of its intention to review the Indus Water Treaty, citing “fundamental and unforeseen” changes in circumstances since the treaty’s signing in 1960. The notice, issued under Article XII (3) of the treaty, calls for government-to-government negotiations to reassess the treaty’s obligations.

The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates the waters of six rivers flowing from India to Pakistan. India has expressed concerns about the impact of cross-border terrorism, increased population, environmental issues, and the need for more hydro-power development.

One of the key concerns and demands of India is the reconsideration of the dispute-resolution mechanism, citing violations of the three-step graded mechanism prescribed in the treaty. India advocates for resolving disputes through neutral-expert proceedings, rather than the Court of Arbitration.

India aims to develop more hydro-power, considered cleaner than thermal power, and also highlights the need to address environmental issues and the impact of increased population on water resources.

The notice comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Kishanganga and Ratle hydro projects, which Pakistan has objected to. The World Bank has activated both the neutral-expert mechanism and the Court of Arbitration to resolve these disputes.

The Indus Water Treaty assigns the waters of the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers to India, and the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus rivers to Pakistan. India is allowed to use waters from the western rivers for limited irrigation and unlimited non-consumptive purposes, such as power generation.

The review of the treaty aims to address the changing circumstances and ensure the optimal use of the Indus River System’s waters.