Water as a weapon

It had always been forecast that water and its use could become a point of conflict between Pakistan and India, which share control over River Indus and other rivers flowing into that body of water. Analysts had also forecast that water could be used as a powerful weapon in the event of conflict. On Sunday, the Indian state minister for water resources said that India would be blocking 0.53million acre feet of water from flowing into Pakistan down the three eastern rivers, the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi. Pakistan has not yet responded, although it has said previously that water from the eastern rivers already belonged to India.

But there is a degree of uncertainty concerning this water. Pakistan’s minster for law and justice stated in December last year that under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 India was to allow the natural flow of water into Pakistan, if it made any attempt to use water from the western rivers. The minister had also stated that India had begun to use water from rivers Chenab and Jhelum for industrial purposes. It had also been agreed that water commissioners from both countries would periodically travel across the border to inspect construction on rivers. The latest visit by an Indian team scheduled for later this month has been postponed with tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours still high.

The use of water as a weapon could naturally have very grave consequences for people. Both countries are short of water resources, and the Indian minister for water resources has said that water stores from the eastern rivers would be used as required in Indian Punjab and Rajasthan. Pakistan has already protested to the World Bank, which overlooks the IWT, about the building of a dam by India on River Chenab. India’s control of river waters entering Pakistan obviously gives it a very powerful weapon to use against its neighbour to the west. For this reason, it is imperative that Pakistan keep the international community engaged in the issue and ensure it is able to mediate as necessary. For any country no real defence is available if water reaching it is cut off. Unlike aircraft or missiles, there is no way to counter a threat posed by limiting water flow. The developing situation then needs to be carefully watched and Pakistan along with other nations and organisations must make sure the IWT is not violated and that water does not become the key matter of contention in the conflict that continues to disrupt the region.