THE Attorney-General’s Office Friday very rightly took notice of news stories appearing in the Indian press regarding New Delhi’s attempt at unilateral modification of Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
In a statement, the AG’s Office termed such stories misleading, adding that the Treaty cannot be unilaterally modified.
Brokered by the World Bank between Pakistan and India in 1960, the IWT is undoubtedly an important international agreement that provides an essential cooperative framework for both the countries to address current and future challenges of effective water management to meet human needs and achieve development goals.
However, it is unfortunate that the Indian side has never accorded any respect to it and violated it as part of its strategy to use water as an instrument of war, converting grain producing land of neighbouring country into desert by building dams on the western rivers meant for Pakistan.
The Indian side in fact is pursuing a two pronged strategy. Firstly it is accumulating water by building dams on the rivers that flow into Pakistan.
Ours is an agriculture-based economy reliant on the Indus and its tributaries. Upstream dams allow India to manipulate the flow of water as it sees fit.
Secondly, it diverts river-courses during monsoons to release too much water towards Pakistan causing floods and destruction.
The alarming situation is paving way for troubled South Asia in which future wars would be due to water scarcity and food insecurity.
Now the latest reports of modification in the IWT have come at a time when Permanent Court of Arbitration has started hearing a dispute over Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.
We believe this is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing proceedings at the court of arbitration.
Given the current tense situation, developing any consensus on modifying the IWT will be next to impossible.
Hence, it will be better to pursue the true spirit of the IWT. Ensuring a fair and just distribution of waters under the IWT is imperative for regional peace and security.
