On 22 April, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan-nurtured and sent by Pakistan brutally murdered innocent citizens by asking religion. After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where India destroyed Pakistan on the military front through Operation Sindoor, before that, the decision to postpone the Indus Water Agreement has longed for one drop of water. India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty at a time when Pakistan is already facing water crisis. The plan to build six new canals in Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces is also stuck in controversies.
If we talk about history, then under the Indus Water Agreement, talks between India and Pakistan to divide the Indus Valley into 6 rivers, for nine years and the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and former President of Pakistan Ayub Khan reached Karachi on 19 September 1960 with the mediated by the Sindhu Jal Treaty World Bank.
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Under this treaty, the water of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, three eastern rivers of the Indus basin, was allotted to India. At the same time, 80 percent of the water of three western rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab was allotted to Pakistan. The way water was distributed in the agreement can be understood by the Prime Minister of India and the government. PM Nehru took more care of the interests of Pakistan than the interest of the country. This treaty is very important for agriculture and hydro power projects in Pakistan and 80 percent of the irrigation water in Pakistan is supplied from the water of these rivers. Drinking water is also supplied from this river for many cities.
Under this water treaty between India and Pakistan 65 years ago, there was an agreement between the two countries for water management of rivers. This agreement to divide the rivers remained in its place for 65 years despite many wars, differences and quarrels. But this is considered to be the biggest action in the tough steps India announced after 26 people were killed in an attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. The suspension of the treaty by India is the first time since its establishment, indicating a change in water diplomacy associated with terrorism across the border. This reflects a change in India’s approach.
In a review meeting held a week and a half after an attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Blood and water cannot flow together.” Prime Minister Modi’s statement was pointed at the Sindhu Water Agreement. After the attack on security forces in Pulwama in 2019, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “The government has decided to stop the distribution of water to Pakistan.” In August 2019, the then Water Resources Minister of India Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had said, “Work has started to stop the water going to Pakistan without violating the Indus Water Treaty.”
After a crushing defeat from the Indian Army, Pakistan has now started beggar in front of India with water. The Government of Pakistan has written a letter to the Ministry of Water Power on 14 May to appeal to the postponement of the Indus Water Agreement to re -consider the postponement. At the same time, there is another important thing that this appeal of Pakistan was made when the Bharat Chenab has started flushing and dyelting in the Bagalihar and Salal hydroelectric projects on the Chenab river.
Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary Sayyid Ali Murtaza said in a letter to India, “Due to the postponement of the Indus Water Agreement, there has been a big water crisis for the kharif crop in Pakistan.” Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar said on 13 May that if India does not resume the Indus Water Treaty and tries to divert water towards us, the ceasefire implemented between the two countries could be in danger.
This offer of Pakistan is clearly showing its splash to discuss the Indus Water Treaty. This was not the first time that the Government of India demanded a change in the treaty between the two countries in 1960. Two years ago, India sent a notice to Pakistan in this regard, but this notice only talked about ‘changes’. However, in the notice sent in August 2024, India talked about ‘review’ of the agreement along with changes. It also mentioned ‘terrorist activities from across the border’. It also said on behalf of India that ‘Terrorism from across the border’ is a hindrance in the smooth operation of this agreement. But Pakistan did not give any answer to this, now that India has postponed the agreement, Pakistan has come to knees.
On May 15, in an event, reporters gave External Affairs Minister S.K. When asked Jaishankar about the Indus Water Agreement, he made it clear that the agreement would remain canceled. The Government of India is not ready to reconsider it and there will be no talks with Pakistan in this matter. Prior to the latest statement of the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear in his address to the nation that blood and water cannot flow.
The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty threatens Pakistan’s water security, as 80 percent of its agricultural land depends on these rivers. This disruption will affect food security, urban water supply and power generation, as well as economic instability will also arise due to 25 percent of the contribution of the Indus river system to Pakistan’s GDP. India’s capacity to prevent river flow data will further increase Pakistan’s influence and flood readiness and water resources management will be interrupted. The meaning is that social, political and economic problems are sure to increase due to water crisis in Pakistan in the coming time. There is an old dispute over water sharing in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh province. The current water crisis will deepen the dispute.
India is now planning to use the water of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej for itself. Work has been started immediately on this. In addition, middle -term and long -term plans are also being finalized. According to experts, it is inevitable for Pakistan to harm Pakistan in a long time. In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Modi clearly stated that there will be talk to Pakistan… So there will be on Terrorism… It will be talked to Pakistan… So it will be on PoK. Now Pakistan has to decide whether it will support the terrorists or will choose the path of peace and decency to quench the thirst of its thirsty fields and citizens.
– Dr. Ashish Vashistha
Political analyst and columnist