After the gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam that has killed 28, India is taking a bold diplomatic step by suspending the more than 50-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.
The treaty, signed in 1960 and facilitated through the mechanism of the World Bank, has been a part of cooperation between the two states. As per this agreement, Pakistan gets access to the water of three very important rivers, namely, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, while India holds the rights and control over the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
Such suspension could lead to serious trouble in Pakistan.
Why is it important?
Approximately 80% of agricultural land in Pakistan, which is worth more than 16000000 hectares, depends on the Indus river system. Abrupt cut-off flow of water would create havoc in crop irrigation and food production. The sufferers are not only the fields but also the cities and energy grids in Pakistan which get drinking water and hydropower generation out of it.
As experts have placed their opinion over it, this will probably put at risk the hydropower generation of Pakistan while raising potential water scarcity for urban centres—it’s much more than a mere diplomatic message.
The other action accompanying India’s suspension is that it too would suspend visas for Pakistani nationals coming into the country and stop movement at the Attari-Wagah border.
This might seem a retaliatory measure post-Pahalgam attack; many have interpreted it as India stiffening its posture on cross-border terrorism.
It is still not too clear if it is a temporary measure, or if it is an outright long-term strategy. For now, however, it has set shock waves all over the subcontinent.
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