Abstract
The Indus River basin was divided into India and Pakistan in 1947 in accordance with independence of these countries from the United Kingdom. The division of the catchment induced conflicts between India and Pakistan over water resources as upstream and downstream countries. Two nations failed to settle the dispute over distribution of water resources in the basin by bilateral talks. The World Bank offered assistance with a view to establishing an integrated water resources development and management scheme in the basin. Two countries resumed negotiation under good offices of the World Bank in 1951. The idea of integrated water resources management was discarded during the negotiation process, for basin countries were not willing to collaborate for this sake. The Indus Water Treaty, which is based on division of the catchment into two basin countries and let them develop and manage water resources within their own territory, was signed in 1960 after nine years of long negotiation. The success of the World Bank is attributed to (a) support given by the United States and other “western” governments, (b) ability of the World Bank to raise funds for development of the Indus River basin from its own resource and developed countries, and (c) riparian countries' willingness to secure funds for development of the catchment.
