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 Treaty and invoking Afghanistan to block water inflows of River Kabul into Pakistan.
“Indian propaganda is baseless and far from reality. But, we decided at our own to contact Kabul yet another time for the development of water sharing formula between the two countries,” said a high official of the ministry and requesting not to be quoted.
It would be the third attempt by Pakistani authorities to pursue Afghanistan for the development of a mutual water treaty. Kabul was approached for water talks in the PPP and Pervaiz Musharraf tenures but the non-existence of Afghan National Water Policy was the problem for both countries to go ahead.
“We had made two efforts to bring Afghanistan at negotiating table over water sharing agenda during Pervaiz Musharraf and PPP tenures. But, Kabul’s point of view was that it was working to frame its indigenous water policy and it cannot enter into an agreement with Pakistan without the completion of its water policy,” said the official.
There are media reports that Afghanistan decided to build 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of electricity on the river Kabul. Indian prime minister during his visit to Kabul in January had inaugurated hydel project on River Kabul which is funded by New Delhi.
According to reports, Pakistan and Afghanistan share nine rivers with annual flows of about 18.3 million acres feet (MAF) of which the River Kabul accounts for 16.5MAF, while River Chitral, which originates from Pakistan, contributes about 8.5MAF. After it enters Afghanistan this river is called River Kunar. It joins the river Kabul near Jalalabad and then re-enters Pakistan.
Official said: “Pakistan has no issue with Afghanistan’s run of river projects. We want that country developed and prosperous but it cannot stop Pakistan’s water according to international laws even without existence of mutual treaty between the two countries,” said the official.
According to him, Afghanistan could utilise 2.5 MAF water from River Kabul as at Warsak, Pakistan committed water flows of the river of 16-17 MAF out of which 8-8.5 MAF water comes from the River Chitral which generates from Pakistan.
“The government, despite its strong position, again decided to start working with Kabul on water sharing formula. A delegation of top water experts was likely to leave for Kabul next month,” the official said.
About Indus Water Treaty’s revoking possibilities by India, he added: “India cannot cancel Indus Treaty which is brokered by the World Bank. It is also technically impossible for New Delhi to block water of three rivers in Held Kashmir as the whole valley will drown in that water.”
In background discussion, official calls for building consensus on construction of Kalabagh Dam and speedy implementation of Munda Dam project, on River Kabul, for permanently securing water rights of Pakistan.
http://nation.com.pk/national/27-Sep-2016/pakistan-to-woo-afghanistan-again-for-water-treaty
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