Pakistan refuses to accept changes in Indus Water Treaty

India had clarified d that it did not intend to abrogate the Indus Water Treaty (1960) with Pakistan but had said it required some more time to review.

By: News Desk |
December 17, 2016 2:21 pm

Amid escalating tensions between Indian and Pakistan, the neighbouring country has made it clear that it will not accept any change or modifications in the Indus Water Treaty.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi told a Pakistani news daily, Dawn, they were ready to have detailed discussions with Islamabad and resolve differences pertaining to several projects but in no way will accept changes in the provisions of Indus Water Treaty.

“Pakistan will not accept any modifications or changes to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. Our position is based on the principles enshrined in the treaty. And the treaty must be honoured in letter and spirit,” Tariq told Dawn.

This came days after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested some more time to review the entire project.

The treaty was inked in 1960 by the India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan President Ayub Khan, which allocates 80 per cent of water to Pakistan from the six-river Indus Water System, including Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum that flows from India to Pakistan.

The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, is often considered to be one-sided and there has been growing clamour to relook at it. The pact has survived wars and phases of frosty ties between India and Pakistan.

According to reports, India currently generates about 3,000 megawatts of energy from hydropower plants along rivers in Kashmir, but believes the region has the potential to produce 18,000 megawatts.

However, the Modi government has started reviewing various projects with Pakistan after the Uri attack and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif termed Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a martyr in his United Nations General Assembly speech.