Indian Move Threatens Pakistan's Water Security
As the situation continues to unfold, Pakistan is bracing for more water woes, with the treaty's suspension presenting a significant challenge to the country's water security. The World Bank has stated that there is no provision in the treaty to allow for its suspension, and any changes require both India and Pakistan to agree, highlighting the need for diplomatic talks to resolve the issue.
Pakistan's water crisis has been exacerbated by India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement that governs the sharing of water between the two countries. The treaty's suspension has thrown Pakistan's already-shaky water situation into deeper uncertainty, with experts warning that even a small diversion or blockage could hurt Pakistan, particularly during the winter season.
The Indus Waters Treaty allocates three rivers to each country, with Pakistan relying heavily on the Indus River for irrigation and agriculture. India's move has been seen as a threat to Pakistan's water security, with experts warning that India's ability to disrupt water flows could undermine Pakistan's agriculture, which accounts for almost 25 percent of the country's GDP and employs more than 40 percent of the workforce.
Pakistan has invoked international legal channels to make its case, but India has refused to recognize the Permanent Court of Arbitration's authority in the case. The situation remains tense, with both sides adopting hard-line positions, and analysts warning that a military response from Pakistan could be unwise given the recent conflict. Pakistan is planning to speed up construction on its own dams and increase its water storage capacity to mitigate the effects of the treaty's suspension.
The water crisis in Pakistan is further complicated by chronic water shortages in its capital, Islamabad, and the adjacent city of Rawalpindi, which face degraded infrastructure and mismanagement. The cities' surface water supply is entirely dependent on three dams, which are not sufficient to meet the demand. Climate change has led to drastically lower water levels in all of Pakistan's dams, exacerbating the problem. The country's leadership needs to take urgent steps to address the issue and ensure a stable water supply for Islamabad and its surrounding areas.