Pushing South Asia into war
Col Zaheerul Hassan (R)
The world seems standing at the brink of another world war because of
failure of emerging weak role of UNO and uni-polar system. The power
relations are defining the world as an ?overruling cleavage’ of the
international system. The unfair race of economic growth in terms of
capturing natural resources, unequal division of wealth, global wave of
organizational and state terrorism, selfish policies of super power,
craving smaller sates, current financial global crunch and the collapse
of the Soviet Empire are the factors which are accelerating the time so
rapidly that destruction of world seem to be very nearer. The dramatic
political and strategic changes of Asia related to South Asian region in
latter half of the twentieth century has further deteriorated the world
peace. The main characters of prevailing insecure environment and
regional instability are, India, US, Afghanistan’s puppet government,
America, Israel and some of European allies. The capturing of natural
resources for enhancing economic growth is basically a power thirst of
US and her Police Watch Man (India). According to Indian philosophy
wealth obtaining and power seeking are interlinked and two sides of the
same coin. The Indian unflinching quest of grabbing natural particularly
water resources are seem to be putting devastating effects on her
neighbours, Pakistan , Bangladesh and Nepal , thus pushing South Asian
Region into war.
Peter H. Gleick at the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development,
Environment and Security has further confirmed the root causes by
identifying the seven categories or types of conflicts as regards to
water sources. First, Control of Water Resources: (state and non-state
actors): where water supplies or access to water is at the root of
tensions. Second, Military Tool (state actors): where water resources or
water systems themselves are used by a nation or state, as a weapon
during a military action. Third, Political Tool (state and non-state
actors): where water resources, or water systems themselves, are used by
a nation, state, or non-state actor for a political goal. Fourth,
Terrorism (non-state actors): where water resources, or water systems,
are either targets or tools of violence or coercion by non-state actors.
Fifth, Military Target: (state actors): where water resource systems are
direct targets of military actions by nations or states. Sixth,
Development Disputes: (state and non-state actors): where water
resources or water systems are a major source of contention and last but
not the least dispute in the context of economic and social development.
But if we apply all these factors now it encircles whole South Asian
Region instead of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The major cause
of prevailing insecure environment is Indian desire of expansionism and
grabbing natural resources by using unfair means.
Apart from disputes over international Water of South Asia, the
Indo-Pakistan dispute over the Wular Barrage (The Indus Waters Treaty)
and Bugliar Dam, Indo-Bangladesh water dispute over the Farakka Barrage
(The Ganges Water Treaty) and the Indo-Nepal dispute over the Mahakali
River are the glaring ones and endangering to the regional peace. It is
notable here that India always used water as tool against Pakistan Nepal
and Bangladesh. The Indian rulers exploit this natural resource through
blocking the flow of rivers which originate from the Indian controlled
territories and claiming their rights of using Nepalese Origin Rivers
too.
Indus Basin Water Treaty between India and Pakistan was signed in
September 1960 as result of mediation of the World Bank. As per the
agreement, waters of three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab
will be used by Pakistan while India has given rights over eastern
rivers of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. But India has always dishonoured the
accord from time to time to create economic crisis in Pakistan. It is
worth mentioning here that Indus Basin treaty over distribution of water
resources was concluded after 23 years of Pakistani struggle but once
again after 23 years or so controversy rose up in 1984 when India
violated the laws of the agreement and started construction of Wuler
Barrage over River Jhelum without consulting, informing and showing the
design to Pakistan.
The issue put the two nation’s dagger drawn to each other. Pakistan
launched strong protest. India though stopped the construction but after
some period again started the work and completed it. According to
sub-paragraph 8(h) of the Indus Waters Treaty, India is permitted to
construct an ?incidental storage work’ on Western rivers on its side:
only after the design has been scrutinized and approved by Pakistan;
admits storage capacity should not exceed 10,000 acres feet of water.
Whereas the Wular Barrage’s capacity is 300,000 acres feet, which is
thirty times more than the permitted capacity. According to the Treaty,
India is only allowed to construct a small hydro plant with a maximum
discharge of 300 cusecs through the turbines which are insufficient to
generate 960 Megawatts of electricity as planned by India.
In the mid 1990s India started another violation by constructing the
Baglihar dam on the Chenab River. Pakistan asked World Bank’s to
intervene for stoppage of construction but the Bank allowed India to go
ahead with the project after a few minor modifications, yet it did not
permit the interruption of the agreed quota of water flow to Pakistan.
Indian act to reduce the flow of water is a deliberate violation of the
Indus Basin Treaty. Though President Zardari, Prime Minister Gllani has
risen the issue with Indian Prime Minster Menmohan Sing but still mater
persist due to the inflexible attitude of New Delhi. On October 26 Indus
Water Commissioner (IWC) Jamaat Ali Shah while talking to newsmen at New
Delhi Air Port prior to his departure to Pakistan showed dissatisfaction
over discussion regarding Chenab water with Indian counterpart since two
rounds of talks amongst them ended inclusively. He revealed that
Pakistan will approach the World Bank again and receive compensation
from India for obstructing water flow from the Chenab River and defects
in the design of the Baglihar Dam. Prior to construction of Baglihar Dam
the flow use to be 55000 cusec daily which decreased at 8000 to 9000
level at Marala Head Works. Indian snatched 200,000 cusec water in the
month to September and damaged Pakistani Kharif crops, adding to the
miseries of the farmer’s community. Jamaat Ali Shah has also visited the
district Dooda of Occupied Kashmir and found several defects in the
Baglihar Dam. The implications of constructed dams for Pakistan are ,
controlling of Rivers Jhelum and Chenab by India which will pose direct
and serious threat to Pakistan economy , withhold the water over an
extended period, especially during the dry season and thus converting
and magnifying the risks of floods and droughts in Pakistan.
The Mangla Dam on River Jhelum, which is a source of irrigation and
electricity for Punjab, would be adversely affected. India will be
having a strategic edge, during a military confrontation, enabling it to
control the mobility and recoil of Pakistani troops and enhancing the
maneuverability of Indian troops.
Bangladesh has serious conflict over water sharing issues of two
prominent rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra which comes out from Himalayan
river systems. India violated the norms and treaty through constructing
a barrage at Farakka, 18 kilometers upstream from the border resulted
into reduced flow of water which caused both immediate and long-term
effects including lower agricultural and industrial production,
diminution of ground water reserves, affecting soil moisture and its
structure. The long-term effects involve changes in the ecology of delta
basin, changes in the hydraulic characters of its rivers and reduced
navigation depth.
Similarly, India again involved in water Sharing conflict with Nepal
too. The Mahakali River is originating in Nepal and flowing into India.
21 Nepalese rivers have a marvelous potential ability to generate 83000
MW electricity through hydro can be exported to neighbours, but lack of
funds and technology Nepalese are unable to launch large projects.
Indian power deficit in northern India is around 9,500 MW. The shortfall
can be completed through construction of power projects over Nepalese
rives but Nepalese have some serious reservations over India and very
rightly feel that they have not been treated equitably under the various
water-resource development agreements with India, including Sarada
(1920), 24 Kosi (1954) and Gandak (1959).25
As we all knew that China and the East Asian region are major center of
?expanded reproduction’ as well as a major center of world money despite
the current world financial crises. Washington in collaboration with
India is on the policy of capturing oil rich central Asian Regions,
containment of China, suppressing Iran , capturing Asian Market to boost
her economy and supporting Israel on Palestine Issue . Her Police Man
(India) increased the insecurity in the context of state collapse,
terrorism, fundamentalisms, humanitarian disasters in South Asia,
Regional Water conflicts, economical and finical crises are going to be
catastrophe for the people and likelihood of a serious inter-state armed
conflict over water resources will be soon. To avoid disaster UNO should
interfere and should devise some regional policy of using natural
resources. At the same time, there is a need to condemn the Indian
nefarious hegemony design to enhance the regional economic growth and
prosperity. |
