Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations. (200 words)

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty allocated the western rivers largely to Pakistan and eastern rivers largely to India, while creating cooperation mechanisms.

Treaty framework

• India received unrestricted use of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej; Pakistan received the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab subject to specified Indian uses.
• The Permanent Indus Commission, neutral expert and Court of Arbitration provide dispute-resolution channels.

Changing context

• The treaty enabled irrigation and hydropower planning but ecological flows, sediment, glacier change and basin pollution demand modern management.
• Projects and security tensions create political friction, yet data exchange and treaty procedures remain confidence-building tools.
• Climate variability strengthens the case for basin-wide conservation without undermining legal commitments.

Keywords: Indus basin, eastern rivers, western rivers, Permanent Indus Commission, hydropower, ecological flows.