Pakistan

India to lose if it breaches water treaty: minister

Urges Modi govt to stop politicising water issue

Sehrish Wasif February 09, 2017

The treaty was brokered by the World Bank in 1960. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Urging the Modi government to stop politicising the water issue with Pakistan, Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Wednesday that India will be a net loser if it violated the treaty.

Speaking at a national consultation on ‘Pakistan’s Water Challenges’, she said that the government was formulating a comprehensive strategy to deal with challenges facing the Indus Waters Treaty.

Dar says World Bank move jeopardises Pakistan’s water rights

“India itself will suffer if it violates the Indus Water Treaty … Instead of politicising the issue, it must adopt a policy of dialogue,” she said.

The treaty was brokered by the World Bank in 1960, which survived three wars and many bouts of tensions between the two neighbors. It governs the distribution of water from six rivers between Pakistan and India.

The treaty’s fate is uncertain ever since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to ‘review’ it in the wake of simmering tensions between the two countries.

Pakistan, however, is adamant that India cannot unilaterally revoke the water accord.

Recently, the head of WB visited both Pakistan and India to ensure that the situation did not deteriorate.

The minister of state said that the government believed in reaching out to its neighbors, including India. “We want amicable solution to all problems with India,” she said, adding that despite Indian belligerence, Pakistan was showing restraint and acting in a responsible manner.

Pakistan will not accept external pressure on Indus Waters Treaty: Asif

Aurangzeb pointed out that both countries’ economic progress was linked with the treaty.

She said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif believed in politics of consultation and reconciliation. “Therefore, he will consult with all political parties on water issues,” she said.

After 17 years, she said, the government had decided to carry out census this year because it was crucial for assessing population and devising strategies to overcome challenges.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2017.

COMMENTS (14)

hetak shah | 7 years ago | Reply It is not violation of treaty but ripen sin of pakistan through hostility, fake currency printing, terroristm, sheltering criminal like dawood, osam........ Just look around the world. No lower raparian country got this much water in world. Hence it is your sin which is making you loose. We understand meaning of loose, but dont threat nuclear finger. we are simply too big. your 159 nuclear bomb cant destroy us. on top of it, we have missile defence system. if war happens we will not get only kashmir but pakistan as well. Just start counting your day of destruction.

Meer | 7 years ago | Reply @Vectra: Brahmaputra River. Who fills three rivers of India. This is the concept of upper riparian and lower riparian. Upper riparian can not stop the flow of water.If India stops Pakistan's water then ultimately China also stop the flow of Brahmaputra River.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

whatever | 7 years ago | Reply Don't worry India will just keep pot of Kashmir and IWT, boiling for the Pakistan.

Anil Varma | 7 years ago | Reply World Bank has recused itself from being an arbiter of the Indus Water Treaty. India already won. There's only one loser in this.

rich | 7 years ago | Reply Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Wednesday that India will be a net loser if it violated the treaty. so why are u warning india? let us lose good for pakistan oh are u helping india by advising us i am confused

Iqbal | 7 years ago | Reply This is India's water and they can do what they like. World Bank has no legal grounds to impose restrictions or otherwise on India. This is 2017 and not 1960 when India was a non player.

Kashif | 7 years ago | Reply Agree , there is no justification given on how and why India will suffer .

Pakipukubanger | 7 years ago | Reply Madam, Modi's shadow uttered the word "IWT" six months back and he is busy with a billion other issues. But I see the entire Pakistani political, buroucratic and military establishment wrestling with the shadow of Modi's IWT statement on 24×7 basis for months now.

Ra | 7 years ago | Reply very bold step to revisit iwt and cold start by india.we must look for first use of weapan.nail the flesh out of enemy bones.

wiserneighbour | 7 years ago | Reply Kindly explain how India will be the loser.To my knowledge,the rivers are flowing from India to Pakistan.Are you threatening to make a new River along with CPEC?

VINEETH | 7 years ago | Reply Maybe India wants to lose for a change.

onlooker | 7 years ago | Reply Modi does rigorous homework before engaging with countries like Pakistan and IWT too is not an exception. Pakistan will always land itself in soup if Modi is their adversary! Better not to provoke him further as Pakistan will be a nett beneficiary if managed to keep Modi happy.

PrakashG | 7 years ago | Reply And, you want India to lose, right? So, bingo!

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply India will itself suffer, how???? The above article only quote one person in Pakistan saying it but didn't explained how. As far as I know the people who are ruling India are no fools either that they didn't knew what this Pakistan minister of Information & broadcasting knows. Secondly the minister is unnecessary indulging in political blame game itself as after the UN itself blamed Pakistan of IWT negligence and warned it that IWT survival is weak, Pakistan should tone down and act cautiously because any further unwanted acts from its side may force India to abandon the treaty all together in future if not now although there is no exit clause in it as said by UN which India also knows. No exit clause but at the same time survival weak, so what is between it?? So don't talk in air come down to ground.

Replying to X