Water unanimity

The Indus Water Treaty is a great manifest of accommodation and compliance between India and Pakistan. Notwithstanding how both these countries act and react, otherwise, in realpolitik, this piece of international instrument has kept them at peace in regulating one of the most critical issues of their coexistence and survival i.e. water. It is a good omen that the 117^th meeting of Indus Water Commissioners was held in Islamabad earlier this month, and it reiterated the resolve to carry on the spirit of cooperation despite reservations on a host of technicalities. The annual feature, which takes place in both the countries alternatively, under the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission could serve as a role model and a replica for enabling rubbing of shoulders between other stakeholders in a plethora of bilateral issues that pitch them at odds.

Commissioners PK Saxena and Syed Mehar Ali Shah reportedly pondered over water-related irritants, and sophisticatedly brought to the fore their responses over Kiru Hydroelectric Project in Chenab and India’s new run-of-the-river small projects on its western rivers. Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai also came under threadbare scrutiny by experts from both sides. This in essence is a great confidence building exercise, where contentious issues are sorted out in real time under the relevant provisions of the landmark 1960 Water Treaty.

Pakistan was on spot as it urged its counterpart to communicate in advance flood-flow information. The practice has been in vogue since 1989. Water forms an issue of life and death to both the countries, and while Pakistan remains the lower riparian state, its concerns are too qualified to be ignored. The need of the hour is to further streamline the understanding and ensure that the lifeline doesn’t come to a naught. There is need for an astute monitoring of the precious commodity and its judicious distribution down the stream. It should be free from brinkmanship. President Eisenhower of the US had rightly termed the accord “one bright spot in a very depressing world picture that we see so often”. Let the trust endure on.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2022.

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