Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that at least 17 proposed and ongoing water projects of India on the Indus River system are not only against the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty but can also promote the dangerous trend of water dominance or “hydro hegemony” in the region.
Addressing a seminar on “Transboundary Water Resources: A Weaponised Global Common” organized by the Embassy of Pakistan and the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, Ishaq Dar said that shared natural resources should be managed through cooperation and under international law, otherwise they can lead to conflicts and tensions.
He said that Pakistan has always respected the UN Charter, international laws and bilateral agreements. It was in this spirit that the Indus Waters Treaty was signed with India in 1960, which has been the basic framework for the sharing of water resources between the two countries for the past several decades.
The foreign minister said that in the past, Pakistan had also expressed reservations over some Indian projects, but each time the legal and arbitration procedures within the agreement were adopted. According to him, Pakistan also accepted decisions that were not in line with its expectations, but never unilaterally suspended the agreement.
Ishaq Dar alleged that India was not only making provocative statements but was also taking practical steps that amounted to a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. Referring to various hydropower and water transfer projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers, he said that a total of 17 projects could affect the natural system of the river.
He warned that using water as a political pressure or strategic weapon was a very dangerous trend. According to him, India’s policy of restricting or changing the flow of water could pose serious risks to 240 million Pakistanis.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is among the countries in the world that are most affected by climate change, although its share in global greenhouse gas emissions is less than one percent. In such circumstances, the issue of water availability and water security becomes more sensitive.
He urged the international community to promote cooperation for the equitable and sustainable management of transboundary water resources. He said that there are several successful examples in Europe where different countries have promoted regional stability and prosperity through the management of shared rivers.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that Pakistan believes in resolving all disputes through negotiations, diplomacy and international law. According to him, shared water resources should not be a source of division but a source of cooperation and peace.
