Consequences of Kishanganga project

Letter April 07, 2018
What action can be expected from the World Bank in the wake of India’s clear violation of the Water Treaty

KARACHI: Where the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has already predicted a critical water situation for the upcoming summer season in Pakistan, it turns out that India has completed its construction of Kishanganga hydropower project on the Neelum River. Following completion of this, Pakistan has approached the World Bank for redressal of its concerns and to seek help from the governing body acting as the arbitrator in making the neighbouring country abide by the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

However, India’s completion of the hydropower project raises many questions on the part of the Pakistani authority. Why is it only after the completion of the project did the authorities concerned in Pakistan realise they need to seek the help of the World Bank? Also, what action can be expected from the World Bank in the wake of India’s clear violation of the Water Treaty between the two countries? This not only puts the role of the World Bank as an arbitration body in question but also the unjustified exercise of power by India.

It is clearer than ever that the role of international mediatory bodies in resolving conflicts, especially between India and Pakistan, stands null as the United Nations too has failed to resolve the Kashmir issue. In fact, the World Bank too has never done enough for the resolution of water issues between the two estranged neighbours. So how can we expect it to help us this time around?

Tehmina Zamir

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2018.

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