LAHORE – Neither India nor Pakistan can unilaterally abrogate the Indus Water Treaty, say a top official of the Indus Water Commission and leading experts.
As India has entered into the dirty game of hurling threats to suspend the treaty signed 56 years back between President Ayub Khan and India Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, Pakistani officials and experts are not paying any heed to the propaganda of New Delhi.
Experts, talking to The Nation on the subject, however, called for establishment of a permanent water monitoring centre in India to keep an eye on water inflows from eastern and western rivers in from India to Pakistan and New Delhi proposed controversial hydel projects.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in response of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s statement quoted by India media that water and blood cannot flow together, yesterday also asserted that India could not revoke the treaty.
Earlier on Tuesday, Adviser to the PM on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz told the Parliament that revocation of the Indus Water Treaty by India can be taken as an act of war against Pakistan.
Indus Water Commission official who asked not to be named said: “We have all the time available at international forum in case India violates any clause of the treaty.”
When asked if India cancelled the regular meetings between two commissioners and refused to allow monitoring of its proposed projects on western rivers, he said it was unacceptable for Pakistan and would be taken at world level forums.
“We would immediately approach the World Bank in case India makes any violation of the treaty,” he said.
“Islamabad has already approached the World Bank on India’s two controversial dams on River Jhelum and River Chenab. We have permanent court of arbitration to lead our case too,” the official said.
Rafay Alam, a leady environmentalist and lawyer, said that India’s recent propaganda about revoking of treaty was baseless and far from reality.
“Violation of treaties between the countries is not possible in this modern world. We have a world forum to take our case on water issues. Revoking treaty unilaterally by India or Pakistan doesn’t make any sense at all,” he said.
“It is up to India to suspend talks. We don’t need to beg for talks on water. We can monitor its water projects through satellites and could appeal international forum in case of violation,” he said.
Hamid Sarfraz, country’s top water expert, called for the establishing a permanent water monitoring centre in India to keep an eye on water inflows from Indian side and its proposed hydel projects in Held Kashmir.
“Pakistan should establish a permanent water monitoring centre in India which is allowed in treaty. Similarly, India can establish its centre in Pakistan if it wants,” said Hamid.
He said that the treaty was most comprehensive document on water usage between the two countries when it had been signed in 60s but unfortunately it could not be developed according to the modern needs, he added.
“Indian media must stop baseless propaganda. New Delhi should work with Islamabad to further develop the treaty instead of talking irrational,” he said.
http://nation.com.pk/national/29-Sep-2016/experts-call-for-setting-up-water-monitoring-centre-in-india
Comments are closed.