Pakistan’s largest newspaper, Dawn, has published an editorial condemning India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty. The editorial states that India’s actions to suspend the treaty and block river flow are illegal and constitute a crime against humanity. ” As an agrarian state and the lower riparian, with millions depending on river waters for their livelihood, this is a matter of life and death for Pakistan, and illegally blocking river flows by India would be nothing short of a crime against humanity. Therefore, New Delhi must desist from this ill-advised path, and not tinker with the IWT,” wrote Dawn.
India Cannot Unilaterally Suspend the Indus Water Treaty
In another article, quoting experts and analysts, Dawn wrote- “Incidentally, World Bank-brokered treaty has no provision for suspension, and can only be modified by mutual agreement. Experts and analysts suggest that Washington and the World Bank may get involved behind the scenes to preserve the treaty and avert a wider crisis.”
‘US, World Bank May Try To Save Indus Treaty’
Dawn Wrote: THE United States and the World Bank may intervene to prevent the complete breakdown of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which has survived wars, near-conflict, and complete diplomatic breakdowns in the past as well. The treaty, signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between the two neighbours, divided the waters of the six rivers of the Indus Basin between them, with India receiving the three eastern rivers (the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej).
They also quoted a former senior advisor to the White House on South Asian affairs, Joshua White, on India-US relations. “The Trump administration is likely inclined to give India rather wide latitude in retaliating against Pakistan,” said Joshua White, a former senior advisor to the White House on South Asian affairs.
India Suspends Indus Water Treaty
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is India’s top decision-making group for national security matters, has taken tough and strict actions against Pakistan.
Authorities took action after investigators uncovered evidence during the probe into the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorists killed 26 people, including a foreign national. The investigation revealed links to groups or support coming from across the border in Pakistan.
What Is Indus Water Treaty Between India And Pakistan
India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan signed the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) on September 19, 1960. The World Bank brokered the agreement to ensure that both India and Pakistan could fairly and peacefully share the water from the Indus River and its branches. These rivers are very important for farming, drinking water, and industries in both countries.
How And Why Will the Suspension Impact Pakistan?
According to India, the suspension of the treaty would significantly affect Pakistan, as it governs the use and distribution of water from the Indus River and its tributaries. Water from these sources is vital for Pakistan’s drinking needs and agricultural sector.
- Indus River system- Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers are Pakistan’s main source of water for tens of millions of people
- Pakistan heavily depends on these water supplies for irrigation, farming, and agricultural use.
- 80% of Pakistan’s cultivated land, which is about 16 million hectares relies on water from the Indus system.
- 93% of water from Indus is used for irrigation, powering the country’s agricultural backbone
- System provides water to more than 237 million people, with Pakistan making up 61% of the population living in the Indus Basin
- Indus River system contributes almost 25% to Pakistan’s GDP, supports the cultivation of key crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, and cotton
- Pakistan is already among the most water-stressed countries in the world, and the amount of water available per person is quickly decreasing
- Hydropower plants like Tarbela and Mangla also depend on uninterrupted flows
- Suspension would threaten Pakistan’s food security, creating a severe water crisis
- In brief, the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty would turn Pakistan’s fertile agricultural land into barren areas, worsening the already significant challenges faced by the country’s farming sector.
Rivers In Control Of India And Pakistan
India controls the eastern rivers- Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej- while the treaty allocated the western rivers- Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab- to Pakistan. Although India controls the eastern rivers, the treaty allows it to use only a limited amount of water from the western rivers for farming and for generating electricity without consuming the water. Pakistan got to use 80% of the total water, which was a big advantage for them under the agreement.
Why Was A Treaty Established?
When British India was split in 1947, the Indus River system, which flows from Tibet through India and Pakistan and also touches parts of Afghanistan and China, became a point of conflict.
In 1948, India stopped the flow of water to Pakistan for a short time, which led Pakistan to bring the issue to the United Nations. The UN suggested involving a neutral third party, prompting the World Bank to step in and mediate.
After many years of negotiations, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan signed the Indus Water Treaty in 1960, agreeing to manage and share the river peacefully.
