India has threatened to block the Indus river water flowing down to Pakistan as a result of violence by Pakistan aided groups in Kashmir.
The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960, by Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.
The agreement gives control of the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej to India, while control over the three rivers - the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum to Pakistan. Since Pakistan's rivers flow through India first, the treaty allowed India to use them for irrigation, transport and power generation, while laying down regulations for Indian building projects along the way.
Pakistan feared that, since rivers of the Indus basin were in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan, especially at times of war.
India plans to revoke the Indus Waters Treaty without mutual cooperation trying to counter terrorism by Pakistan. Revoking the treaty could well evoke war and Pakistan looks to seek assistance from the United Nations.
Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. 40 million already lack access to clean drinking water and cancelling the Indus water Treaty would only increase their woes. Indus is the sole source of water for irrigation and human consumption.
If India revokes the treaty to punish its neighbour, then it could set a dangerous precedent and give some ideas to Pakistan's ally, China. The Chinese might cut the water flow in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China and is claimed by Beijing could well decide to slow the flow of the mighty Brahmaputra River by constructing dams. It's a move that could have disastrous consequences for the agriculturally productive northeastern Indian state of Assam.
Officials from India and Pakistan have discussed problems relating to Indus Basin at the Indus Water Commission meeting in Islamabad. Any Indian step for disrupting water flow would carry considerable risk of war and hostilities. Violation of the treaty will inflict more damage on Pakistan than some forms of warfare.
India must refrain from revoking the treaty since it will have disastrous effects on India and Pakistan. Tensions are high between the two countries and this could well possibly lead to a war that will destroy human civilisation.
BW Reporters
The author is a correspondent with BW Businessworld with keen interest in HR and employee welfare.
