India Remains Firm on Revoking the Indus Waters Treaty; Pakistan Fears Diversion of River Flow. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warns this could breach the ceasefire.
India-Pak Ceasefire: Tensions are once again high between India and Pakistan regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. A recent ceasefire agreement between the two countries is now threatened, with Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, stating that the ceasefire will not last long if the water issue remains unresolved.
India Remains Committed to Revoking the Indus Waters Treaty
The Indian government maintains its stance on potentially revoking the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. India believes that Pakistan's continued support for terrorism makes adherence to the existing water-sharing agreement detrimental to its national interests.
Pakistan Fears Water Diversion
Pakistan is concerned that India might divert or obstruct the flow of rivers like the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum. The Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan are heavily reliant on Indus river water. Any action by India could therefore inflict significant harm on Pakistan, leading to Pakistan's repeated b pronouncements on the issue.
Ishaq Dar Issues a Threat of War
In an interview with Pakistani media, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that a failure to reach an agreement on water sharing would be considered an "act of war." He attempted to link this dispute to the Kashmir issue and leveled unsubstantiated accusations against India.
The Indus Waters Treaty: A Historical Overview
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. Under this agreement, the waters of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers were allocated to Pakistan, while India received the waters of the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. The World Bank mediated this agreement. However, Pakistan has periodically politicized the treaty and attempted to exert undue pressure on India.
India's Stance Shifts After Pulwama Attack
Following the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, the Indian government indicated its intention to revoke the Indus Waters Treaty. India made it clear that Pakistan's terrorist activities would not be ignored and would be met with responses on economic, political, and natural resource levels.
Ceasefire Unrelated to Water Dispute
Recently, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Both sides pledged to maintain peace along the border. However, Pakistan is attempting to link the Indus Waters Treaty to this ceasefire, while India has shown no signs of softening its stance.
