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Which mountain ranges supply meltwater to the Indus River?

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Physical map showing the Indus River basin and its drainage network across parts of Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan. The map details river courses, tributaries, canals, dams, irrigated and marsh areas, sand regions, and elevation changes with shaded relief. International, disputed, and control boundaries are marked, and a small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within South Asia. — Indus River The Indus River basin and its drainage network.

The Indus River and its tributaries are primarily fed by meltwater from glaciers and seasonal snows located in the high-elevation regions of their upper catchments.12

The primary mountain ranges and massifs that supply this glacial meltwater include:

Karakoram Range: This range serves as a major watershed for the Indus basin, with its extensive glacial systems providing a significant portion of the river's water supply.23
Nanga Parbat massif: Glaciers on the slopes of this massif contribute directly to the Indus and its tributaries, such as the Astor River.3
Kohistan highlands: These highlands also contain glaciers that feed the river system.3

Additionally, the Zanskar and Dras rivers, which drain the northern slopes of the Great Himalaya Range, carry meltwater into the Indus. The river's flow is further supplemented by various streams, including the Shyok, Shigar, and Gilgit rivers, which transport glacial runoff from these high-altitude regions.43