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How did the Indus Waters Treaty divide the six main Indus basin rivers between India and Pakistan?
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Indus River
The Indus River basin and its drainage network.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, established a framework to manage the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. The agreement divided the six main rivers of the basin as follows:12
- Western Rivers: Control of the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab was assigned to Pakistan.12
- Eastern Rivers: Control of the waters of the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej was assigned to India.12
To ensure Pakistan maintained access to water supplies previously received from the eastern rivers, the treaty also facilitated the construction of various infrastructure projects, including the Tarbela Dam and the Mangla Dam.2