PM Modi's Move on Indus Water Treaty Sparks Tension
The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by India has raised concerns about the impact on Pakistan's water supply, and the World Bank's clarification has limited Pakistan's options for resolving the dispute through international mediation. The two countries will have to negotiate a resolution themselves, which could potentially affect the livelihoods of millions of people.
World Bank President Ajay Banga has clarified that the bank has no role to play beyond being a facilitator in resolving issues related to the Indus Water Treaty, a major setback to Pakistan's efforts to resolve the dispute through international mediation. The treaty, signed in 1960, governs the sharing of waters of six rivers between India and Pakistan, and its suspension by India has raised concerns about the impact on Pakistan's water supply.
The Indus Water Treaty has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan for decades, with both countries having different interpretations of the agreement. India suspended the treaty after a recent incident, claiming that it needed to use the waters of the Indus and its tributaries in its own interest. Pakistan has been preparing for legal action, including raising the issue at the World Bank, but the bank's clarification has limited its options.
World Bank President Ajay Banga met with PM Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss the Indus Water Treaty, and clarified that the bank's role is limited to facilitating dispute resolution through neutral experts or arbitrators, as per the treaty's provisions. This means that the bank will not be able to impose a solution on the two countries, and that India and Pakistan will have to negotiate a resolution themselves.
The World Bank's clarification has significant implications for the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Indus Water Treaty. With the bank's role limited to facilitating dispute resolution, the two countries will have to find a way to resolve their differences through negotiations. The outcome of these negotiations will have a significant impact on the water supply of both countries, and could potentially affect the livelihoods of millions of people.