AS India’s water aggression is assuming dangerous dimensions, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has done well by sensitizing members of the diplomatic corps about Indian designs, impact of water manipulation on Pakistan’s economy and potential dangers to peace and security of the region. He urged Islamabad-based diplomats to inform their capitals and also, in their national capacities, call on India for the immediate restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), stop weaponization of water, uphold international law and treaty obligations and refrain from undermining peace and stability of South Asia. Dar pointed out that Pakistan witnessed in April this year India’s unilateral abeyance of the IWT in gross contravention of international law, especially Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. But what we are witnessing now is material breaches by India that strike at the heart of the Indus Waters Treaty, with escalating consequences both for regional stability and sanctity of international law.
That the issue has been raised by Pakistan several times at different levels in a week is itself an indication of a serious situation that might lead to a dangerous standoff between Islamabad and New Delhi. Earlier, reacting to abrupt variations in river flows to Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesperson warned that any manipulation of river flow by India, especially at a critical time of our agriculture cycle, directly threatens the lives and livelihoods as well as food and economic security of our citizens. The spokesperson called upon India to respond to the queries raised by Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner, refrain from any unilateral manipulations of river flows and fulfill all its obligations in letter and spirit under the IWT provisions. In a statement, the Ministry of Water Resources said Pakistan had sought an explanation from India over an “extraordinary reduction” in the river flows after what it described as the complete discharge and subsequent refilling of the Baglihar dam, in violation of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. In fact, India has long been in violation of the World Bank-brokered treaty and these violations were aimed at controlling flow of water to Pakistan. This has become a reality after the May conflict between the two countries, which was used by the Indian Prime Minister as an excuse to initiate water aggression against Pakistan. It may be pointed out that top civilian and military leadership of Pakistan repeatedly affirmed that weaponization of water will be considered as an act of war and the country reserves the right to respond to this aggression in a firmly and appropriate manner. It is a matter of concern that India is not addressing Pakistan’s genuine complaints in the framework of the Indus Water Treaty and this has prompted the UN as well to take notice of the growing tension. The UN Special Procedures and Mandate Holders has addressed a communication to India in which serious legal, human rights and humanitarian concerns have been expressed regarding Indian illegal actions pertaining to the IWT. Pakistan is certainly vindicated as the UN Special Rapporteurs while endorsing Pakistan’s stance on the IWT, which has since been put in abeyance by New Delhi, expressed deep concern over New Delhi’s move and highlighted that any obstruction or threat to the flow of water affects the fundamental rights of millions of people in Pakistan. In fact, after its humiliating defeat on the military front, India is using dirty tactics in violation of international law to harm Pakistan’s economic interests in whatever manner it could. The premise on which India based its case for imposition of war against Pakistan has widely been rejected by the international community and a recent report of the UN experts concluded that India failed to provide credible evidence about Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam attack and slammed New Delhi for its use of force which it said violated the principles of the UN Charter. Pakistan has a legitimate stand on the water issue and hopefully the international community will persuade New Delhi not to threaten peace and security of the region by indulging in illegal tactics.
