Hydro-diplomacy to avert a water war urged

AJK president says India using bilateral tensions to hide its dam designs

Urging Pakistan and India to solve water issues through hydro-diplomacy in line with the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), former diplomats and water experts enunciated fears of war between the two countries if matters pertaining to water sharing of mutual rivers are not placidly resolved.

This came at a ceremony to launch a book ‘Hydro-Diplomacy: Preventing Water War Between Nuclear-Armed Pakistan and India’ authored by Ashfaq Mahmood, the former federal secretary Water and Power.

The ceremony was addressed by Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan as chief guest whereas other speakers included former ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, former secretary Water and Power and chairman of IPS steering committee on Water, Energy & Climate Change Mirza Hamid Hasan, DG IPS Khalid Rahman and the author himself.

Speaking of the gravity of the water situation, the AJK president said Indian violations were hurting Pakistan in terms of water quality, water depletion, food security and climate change, and the scale of this damage could be envisaged through the massive decline in the per capita rate of water flow in the country.

Highlighting the importance of commitment, knowledge-based approach, third-party mediation and strengthening institutions for resolving the issue, Khan stressed Pakistan should be smart enough to know Indian tactics of delay – such as presenting Pakistan-India tensions as a smokescreen to complete its hydro-projects, including Baglihar, Wullar Barrage, Kishanganga dams – at a faster pace.

Shedding light on the significance of the book, the author said there was a big gap in peoples' perceptions on Indo-Pak water issues, which is based on hearsay, and what actually happens in official meetings over the matter.



Elaborating recent controversies regarding Pakistan's concerns over Indian run of the river projects, Mahmood said as per the Indus Water Treaty, India was not supposed to interface, control or affect the flow of water towards Pakistan.

“There have, however, been violations in nearly all the relevant Indian dam designs which were set to have severe repercussion on our waters, food and climate,” he said.

The author said that even information about the dam designs was conveyed belatedly and inadequately to Pakistan, which was followed by wasting of more time in correspondence.

“When eventually Pakistan objects to these violations, statements from the other side are based on igniting sentiments, hiding facts and trying to manoeuvre the situation in their favour,” he said.

He called for enlightening the public, academia, civil society and other stakeholders over the matter, and expressed the hope that effective steps would be taken by the authorities to carefully and proactively move towards the resolution of “this sensitive issue which can otherwise lead to disastrous consequences not only for India and Pakistan, but for the whole region”.

In his speech, former envoy Kakakhel also lamented the deteriorating quality of water flowing into Pakistan, the alarming reduction in quantity of water, and other important water management issues due to Indian non-compliance with the IWT.

He stressed the need for retaining rational heads in the situation. However, he said threats from the Indian leadership — especially Narendra Modi and his cabinet — should not be taken lightly and negative tactics from the Indian side countered.

Hamid Hasan mentioned the pact was signed in an environment where Pakistan needed to ensure food security, but “with the passage of time, shortcomings of the treaty regarding issues such as environment, increase of population and non-resolution of Kashmir dispute have become quite evident”.

He concluded stating that the best way forward to resolve the issue was to ensure that the IWT was kept alive but reviewed and made more effective in addressing the current issues by including addenda to it.