Misguided focus?

This letter refers to the editorial ‘Water terror’ (July 2, 2025). I fail to understand why we are solely focusing on India’s return to the Indus Waters Treaty. While regaining full, unrestricted access to the waters of the Chenab River would certainly benefit Pakistan, it is important to remember that India cannot block the waters of the Indus and Jhelum Rivers. Although India might attempt to manipulate these flows in the future to pressure Pakistan, the question remains: will this focus on the treaty address our core water challenges?

Will it solve the issues of flood control, electricity generation, regeneration of the Indus River Delta and the year-round supply of irrigation and drinking water to Sindh and Punjab? Unfortunately, the answer is a clear ‘no’. The real solution lies in building the Soan Dam/Indus-Soan Link Canal. Without such critical infrastructure, we risk facing an increasingly severe water crisis.

Syed Hussein El-Edroos

Islamabad