India’s water terror

After suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on April 23, India has only escalated its jingoistic and reckless response to the Pahalgam attack – accusing Pakistan – and has now proceeded to virtually stop all water discharges from the Chenab River into Pakistan, reducing water flows into the river by around 90 per cent. According to reports, India is currently using Pakistan’s water to fill up its own dams in the Chenab basin. This is a violation of the IWT. The sudden halt of water flows into the Chenab has also raised concerns of flooding if India were to suddenly start discharging water downstream again. The more immediate threat, however, is how this illegal move exacerbates the country’s water shortage and harms the agricultural sector, the bedrock of the Pakistani economy. The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Monday warned of a 21 per cent water shortage during the early Kharif season (sowing season) due to India’s actions. Agricultural experts warn that reduced water supply, particularly during sowing months, may have ripple effects on rural incomes, export earnings and food security. It does not help that Pakistan is already one of the highest water stressed countries in the world. While India cannot keep the Chenab closed up forever, indeed some reports as of writing indicate that water flows are already climbing back up, this should not be used to downplay the fact that it has committed an act of water terrorism.

The National Assembly has rightly passed a resolution condemning India’s unlawful and unilateral declaration to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it an act of war. The prime minister has also stressed that India’s weaponisation of the IWT was unacceptable and a redline for the people of Pakistan and the country has also raised the issue at the United Nations Security Council. While the call for the UNSC and the UN secretary general not to remain mere observers and work to de-escalate rising tensions with India is justified, Pakistan cannot count on international institutions too much. These forums have done little about India’s decades-long illegal occupation of Kashmir and the abrogation of its autonomous status by the Modi regime and, after events in the Mid-East, their credibility is at an all-time low. The fact that India’s baseless accusations have not attracted many takers beyond its borders is encouraging but, ultimately, Pakistan will have to deal with India’s aggressive moves using its own capacities. This must involve upgrading the country’s decaying water infrastructure and boosting our ability to store more water. Climate change has already made this project a long-term goal but India’s water aggression has only raised the urgency to achieve it as soon as possible.

The country’s agricultural sector, which uses an estimated 93 per cent of the country’s water, is also in dire need of a technological boost. As of now, the sector wastes far too much water due to outdated systems and poor maintenance. Pakistan is also not very good at recycling water, with only around one per cent wastewater being treated. This not only deprives the nation of a potential resource but also leads to pollution. None of these measures, of course, forgo the need for Pakistan to assert its water rights aggressively on the international stage and to put long-term plans in place to counter India’s threat to its water supply. India does not currently have the capacity to hold water it diverts from Pakistan for a long period but it is reportedly already working to build this ability and has begun work to boost reservoir capacity at two hydroelectric projects. Pakistan must act first to forestall the Indian water terror and ensure its fundamental right to water.