THE outcome of the just-concluded meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) is somewhat encouraging as the two countries have reiterated their commitment to implement the Indus Waters Treaty in its true spirit and expressed the hope that the next meeting of the Commission would be held at an early date in India.
This resolve and understanding assumes significance as there have been dismaying signals from New Delhi on the issue of implementation of the World Bank-brokered Indus Water Treaty.
Unlike the Kashmir dispute, which lingers on for decades, Pakistan and India somewhat amicably resolved their water issue when they signed the Indus Basin Treaty in 1960 after nine years of negotiations.
However, the arrangement was disturbed by India as it violated the understanding to allow Pakistan the use of three rivers—the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum – by planning and executing water reservoirs in clear violation of the treaty.
Some of these projects have already been executed despite intense opposition and valid objections raised by Pakistan while work on dozens of others is in progress, which will negatively affect Pakistan’s economy in years to come.
The problem became acute during the tenure of the Modi Government which has been issuing threats to stop Pakistan’s share of water under the treaty and created obstacles in the way of holding meetings of the Indus Commission.
Talks help avoid greater conflicts and their utility was proved in the latest round which ended with convergence on important projects though objections from Pakistan on 1,000 MW Pakal Dul under Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty and 48 MW Lower Kalnai hydropower projects continue to exist.
It is unfortunate that India is not willing to provide full data on different projects and is also not fulfilling its responsibility to convey flood information in a timely manner and as a consequence Pakistan suffers.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised objections to many projects but instead of discussing and removing them, India always preferred to avoid talks or delay them considerably so that the work on controversial projects reaches an irreversible stage.
There have also been serious lapses on the part of Pakistani authorities in the past as they miserably failed to take up relevant issues in a timely and effective manner.
The office of the Pakistan Water Commissioner needs to be strengthened in close coordination with relevant ministries and departments.
