LAHORE – Islamabad has decided to approach Kabul for the development of a water treaty between the two countries on River Kabul, The Nation has learnt reliably. Official sources in the Ministry of Water and Power, however, clarified that the proposed move was not being taken under the influence of recent Indian propaganda about damaging Pakistan’s water interests. Water sector officials said the government paid little heed to the Indian propaganda about revoking Indus Water…
Posts published in “Day: September 28, 2016”
Islamabad: Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man suspected of placing bombs in New York and New Jersey last weekend, spent time in a religious seminary in Pakistan closely associated with the Afghan Taliban, according to a government official. The 28-year-old, who was born in Afghanistan but became a US citizen, spent time at the Kaan Kuwa Naqshbandi madrasa on his two visits to Pakistan, a security official working for the government of Balochistan province told the…
The writer is former President of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, USA, and member of PTI Central Tarbiyati Council It seems the Uri attack on an Indian military regional headquarters has changed the regional dynamics. It is one of those events that create new realities like 911 produced twin wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. Before we get into the discussion of the event itself let’s look at the motivations and ambitions of head of government in…
The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. Kashmir is inflamed since July 8 when Indian security forces killed Burhan Wani, a popular Kashmiri leader. Indian security forces have been on a killing spree since then, killing many, maiming many. Months of curfew has further worsened a bad situation. Indian state refuses to accept the authenticity of the uprising, reverting instead to its age-old rhetoric of passing on the buck to Pakistan. On the…
The writer is a barrister and columnist. To listen to the Indian press — and some of the usual suspects at home — there was no way out. It was War Number four, they said (if you don’t count Kargil), for the same reason Wars one and two were fought. And where the press stopped, the lotus boys started. In 2008, the narrative went, Manmohan was weak, the janta divided. But the janta was angry…
The writer is an analyst and commentator. Over a month ago, I had used this space to plead with the prime minister to choose the ‘Misbah method’ over the ‘Shahid Afridi approach’ as he prepared to head to New York to attend the UN General Assembly session. Afridi’s innings can sometimes be spectacular, but rarely do they serve a purpose larger than the moment. Misbah’s innings are rarely spectacular, but almost always engineered for impact…
The terrorist attack in Uri came at a time when the Kashmiri people’s struggle for liberation from India had gone on for over two months. India was being widely accused in Western media for atrocities. Pakistan, supported by UNHR commissioner, OIC and Turkey had demanded that India allow an international commission to probe human rights violations. New Delhi had however refused any independent enquiry and had thus been put on the defensive. The killing of…
Blood and water cannot flow together,” is the latest sound bite from the Indian PM, referring to the next blow India will deliver to Pakistan. PM Modi chaired a meeting to review the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), and New Delhi is planning on withholding water from three of the five rivers that are controlled by Pakistan.Battle cries aside, the six rivers that flow through the two countries must be shared, whether it pleases him or…
Narendra Modi’s transformation from Hindu war goddess Durga to smiling Buddha was not dictated by choice but by necessity. After having weighed the military options in several meetings with military and intelligence chiefs Modi was convinced that war would do more harm than good to India. He decided therefore to go for non-military options. This was no easy decision as only a week earlier one of his cabinet ministers had demanded jaw for a tooth.…
ISLAMABAD: If India decides to unilaterally revoke the Indus Water Basin Treaty (IWBT) for which there are apparently not bright chances, it will renege on its own obligation noted in this agreement. The September 1960 treaty says its provisions or its clauses modified by the two governments “shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.” On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met senior…
LAHORE: Out of the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab that belong to Pakistan under 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, India can only effectively block water of the latter through the existing infrastructure for 7-8 days in the winter season when the flows ebb, officials said on Monday. They said India is exploring ways to restrict flows of western rivers in the wake of an ongoing tension between Pakistan and India following the recent…