India will stop Pakistans source of water Nitin Gadkari for water resources

New Delhi: Union Minister for Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari, retorted with a warning to cut the water flowing through India to Pakistan ‘At the time of signing the Indus Water Treaty, between India and Pakistan, it was expected that the cordial nature of the relations between the two countries would continue. But Pakistan jolted the fundamentals of the agreement by resorting to terrorism and anti-India activities. Therefore, India cannot be committed to follow the agreement.’ Gadkari said that the water from the three rivers flowing from India to Pakistan would be diverted to other states of India. Following this, Pakistan has made preparations to register a complaint with the World Bank against the Indian decision.

Indus water treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in the year 1960. It was decided in the agreement that the water of Sutlej, Bias, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab was to be distributed between India and Pakistan. India has allowed Pakistan to use water from three of these rivers and India had, so far, taken a soft stand in the matter. India did not decide to cut the water even after the 1965, 1971 and 1999 wars with Pakistan. India observed the Indus water treaty even during wartime.

But, for the first time, India indicated reassessing the Indus water treaty, following the Uri attack in 2016. India made its position still more aggressive following the Pulwama terror attack in February. The Union Water Resources Minister, Nitin Gadkari had warned that the water flowing into Pakistan would be stopped, scrapping the Indus Water Treaty.

Gadkari reiterated once again that India was firm on cutting the water flowing into Pakistan while addressing a press conference on Thursday. He warned that there is no other option left with India as Pakistan continues to support and harbour terrorism. Union Minister for Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari, clarified that efforts are on to divert the water to the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, scrapping the Indus water treaty.

Following the warning, Pakistan is running from pillar to post, and as per the foreign ministry, Pakistan will raise this issue of the water sharing agreement with the World Bank. Pakistani analysts had warned, even in the past, that 90% of the Pakistani agriculture is dependent on the water flowing into Pakistan from India and if this water was stopped, what will remain in Pakistan is only an arid desert.