India is seeking changes to the Indus Water Treaty, which has been in place for over six decades, and has formally notified Pakistan of its intention to amend the agreement. This move comes amid a longstanding dispute regarding the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.
Under the treaty, the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers are allocated to Pakistan, while India holds rights over the eastern rivers: Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. India is permitted to generate electricity from run-of-the-river projects. However, Pakistan has repeatedly raised objections to these projects, which has impacted water flow to India.
The notification follows a prolonged controversy surrounding the Kishanganga and Ratle projects. In response, the World Bank has activated both the Neutral Expert mechanism and the Court of Arbitration to address the issues at hand. Consequently, India is calling for a reconsideration of the treaty’s dispute resolution mechanism.
India has invited Pakistan to engage in government-to-government negotiations to review the treaty in accordance with Article XII(3).