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| Indus Water Treaty under strain | | | The Indus Water Treaty of 1960,which is the main treaty
to feed Pakistan with waters from the rivers flowing in India, is under some eclipse because India does not care to respect the Treaty. The lack of respect for the Treaty is the result of Pakistan's no response to India's plea for ending export of terror to facilitate resumption of the process of dialogue. If Pakistan believes that the two sides have to discuss only the issue of Kashmir it is wrong on the part of Islamabad.It is so because there are other issues to be debated between the two sides which include the future of the Indus Water Treaty, Siachen and Sir Creek. India has decided to fast-track three projects, including construction of two dams, to arrest the unutilised water of its share under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, government. The three projects include the Shahpur Kandi dam project, a second Sutlej-Beas link in Punjab and the Ujh Dam project in Jammu and Kashmir.. "These (three) projects were stuck in red tape and inter-state disputes. But it has been decided to expedite the execution of these projects. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, waters flowing in three of Indus tributaries -- the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- have been allotted to India; while the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan.Of the total 168 million acre-feet, India's share of water from the three allotted rivers is 33 million acre-feet, which constitutes nearly 20 per cent.India uses nearly 93-94 per cent of its share under the Indus Waters Treaty. The rest of the water remains unutilised and goes to Pakistan. Reports say that Pakistan may approach the World Bank for arbitration and it has been at the behest of Islamabad that the World Bank has constituted a committee of experts to go into the feasibility of Baglihar project II. India has decided to teach a lesson for the export of terror from Pakistan. Why should India export water in return of import of terror. And in this case the US has the backing of India. Already Washington has imposed severe cuts in military aid to Pakistan out of anger against Pakistan for not initiating steps for tackling terror which has troubled Afghanistna and India. The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank which also a signatory. The negotiations were the initiative of former World Bank President, Eugene Black. This is the most successful international treaties but has come under strain because of the attitude of Pakistan. |
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