Pakistan's lifeline, region's flashpoint
The story of South Asia's great rivers is one of geography, history, and shared destiny. China, Pakistan, and India may be divided by borders and politics, but they are inextricably linked by a common water systemthe Indus basin.
Although dozens of rivers traverse the region, they ultimately belong to three major systems, with the Indus reigning supreme. Originating near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, the Indus cuts a dramatic course through the Himalayas, flowing into Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) before entering Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
From Skardu and Bisham, it moves into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), where the mighty Tarbela Dam harnesses its waters. Downstream, the Indus gathers strength from the Kabul River before pressing south through Kalabagh, Chashma, and Taunsa, on its way to Mithankot.
It is here, at Mithankot, that the Indus embraces the waters of its five great tributaries: the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab. Together, they form the Panjnad, which after a short run of 71 kilometres, merges into the Indus, creating one of the world's most powerful river systems.
From there, the river flows past Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri barrages before completing its 3,180-kilometre journey into the Arabian Sea. The significance of these rivers goes beyond geography. They define Punjab, literally the "land of five rivers."
The Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab not only shape the landscape but also underpin centuries of civilisation, culture, and agriculture. Yet their courses also underscore the complexities of regional politics.
The Sutlej and Ravi both rise in Indian Punjab, cross into Pakistan, and eventually join the Chenab. The Beas never enters Pakistan independently; instead, it merges with the Sutlej in India, which then flows across the border.
The Sutlej, joined by Beas, passes through Harike, Ganda Singh Wala, Sulaimanki, and Head Islam, eventually reaching Panjnad. The Ravi enters Pakistan at Jassar via Madhopur, flows past Shahdara, Baloki, and Sidhna, and merges into the Chenab near Ahmedpur Sial.
The Jhelum flows through Azad Kashmir, via Kohala, Mangla Dam, and Rasul, before joining the Chenab at Trimmu in Jhang. The Chenab itself enters Pakistan through Head Marala via at Akhnoor, and flows past Khanki and Qadirabad, to meet Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej at Panjnad.
The Chenab is one of the grandest, travelling nearly 960 kilometres before uniting with its sister rivers. all these rivers form an intricate network that is the foundation of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
For Pakistan, the Indus is nothing short of a lifeline. It irrigates fields, powers dams, and feeds the delta before surrendering to the sea. For India and China too, these waters are vital arteries of survival and growth.
In a region often divided by politics, the rivers of the Indus basin remind us that nature pays little heed to man-made boundaries. They bind nations together, silently but powerfully, as they have for millennia.