India warns Pakistan over Indus Water Treaty, issues it a notice to respond

New Delhi: India has issued a notice to Pakistan over the Indus Water Treaty signed six decades ago, seeking a response in 90 days, failing which India will be free to take any decision. India had never opted for an aggressive stance on the Indus Water Treaty, even during the war. However, India has issued a notice seeking review and modification of the Indus Water Treaty as India is no longer willing to show generosity in water sharing with Pakistan for having a consistent anti-India position.

Indus Water Treaty was signed on 19th September 1960 between India and Pakistan to agree on the distribution of river water. It included rivers flowing from India to Pakistan. The agreement signed 60 years back has a few ambiguous points. India is seeking a review and modification in the treaty for which Pakistan is not ready. Pakistan has accused India of constructing dams on rivers to divert water into India, which was supposed to be received by Pakistan. However, none of these allegations was proven in international arbitration. On the contrary, Pakistan has been found to be wasting their share of the water.

Pakistan has objected to India’s Kishanganga and Retal hydropower project and approached the World Bank in 2015 due to their involvement in the project. The World Bank has advised finding a way out through discussion. Since then, India has tried to work things out since 2016, but there seems to be no way forward due to Pakistan’s rigid stance. Finally, the Indus Water Commissioner has issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a reply in 90 days.

A strong message has been sent through the notice that if Pakistan fails to respond in 90 days, India will unilaterally decide on the issue. Since the Indus Water Treaty was signed, four wars have been fought between the two countries, but India has never violated the agreement. However, India is determined not to allow Pakistan to take advantage of its generosity. India has warned Pakistan that it will not allow Pakistan an extra share of water henceforth. It is a known fact that most of the water received by Pakistan is getting wasted, and there is no planning for water management. Former US secretary Hillary Clinton warned Pakistan about this during her tenure.

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