India's Strategic Shift: Indus River Projects Threaten Pakistan's Water Security
After the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, India is planning to restrict Pakistan’s use of water from the Indus River. The decision by India signals a possible important change in the IWT between the two nations.
The bilateral agreement over sharing the Indus River, known as the Indus Waters Treaty, has been put on hold.
India has stopped observing the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty that had set out how the rivers should be allocated to India and Pakistan. The suspension happened after New Delhi stated that the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir was carried out by Islamabad. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told officials to complete these projects as soon as possible so there’s more water for India.
Proposed Infrastructure Developments
Plans being looked at include the option of doubling the length of the Ranbir Canal, which would mean more water is diverted from 40 to 150 cubic meters per second. India is considering building more dams and generating hydropower in the western rivers given to Pakistan according to the treaty.
Pakistan's Response and International Concerns
Pakistan is deeply worried by these issues, and has threatened that interrupting the flow of waters from the Indus will be seen as "waging war." Because 80% of Pakistani agriculture and hydropower comes from the Indus, a big drop in water supply would be very harmful.
According to international monitors, suspending the treaty and building more dams could damage Pakistan’s agriculture and energy industries and also cause instability in the region.
Domestic Political Debate in India
The idea of diverting water from the river has led to political disputes in India. Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, believes the Tulbul Navigation Project, which was suspended due to disputes between the countries, should be brought back. However, former CM Mehbooba Mufti opposed the move, calling it inhumane to use water as a weapon.
Conclusion
India’s suggestion to take water from the Indus for its own use opposite Pakistan is a major change in its Pakistan policy. The decision is meant to restrict Pakistan’s economic activities but also carries risks to stability and innocent people’s lives. All eyes are on the two countries as they work to reach a compromise on the highly strategic waterways that impact the well-being of their shared populations.
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