Indus Waters Treaty: Overview of Water Allocation and Negotiation Dynamics Between India and Pakistan

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, allocated water rights between India and Pakistan with significant asymmetry. India, as the upper riparian state, received rights to the three eastern rivers, while Pakistan was granted the larger western rivers, constituting about 80% of the total water flow. Despite India's developmental needs, the treaty imposed concessions including financial payments to Pakistan and restrictions on water use. Negotiations reflected contrasting approaches, with India showing goodwill and Pakistan adopting a more maximalist stance, resulting in a pact favoring Pakistan's water access.