In 1960, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Water Treaty under the leadership of then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, and then Pakistani president, Ayub Khan. The demand to renew the treaty isn’t new but a lot remains questionable when the political relations between Islamabad and New Delhi are worsening. India and Pakistan have often locked horns militarily with each other and then diplomatically at the United Nations. But, the Indus water treaty survived three significant wars between the two nations and is now standing at the risk of faltering.
Pakistan is facing its worst economic crisis in 2023. The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Pakistan’s economy will slow down and the GDP is expected to fall from 3.5 percent to 2 percent. Amidst its worst economic collapse, India in its unprecedented move issued a notice to Pakistan over the Indus Water treaty. According to a report published by the Indian Express, Pakistan’s refusal of intergovernmental negotiations with India is considered to be a factor behind issuing a notice.
India and Pakistan have often locked horns militarily with each other and then diplomatically at the United Nations. But, the Indus water treaty survived”
Pakistan is objecting to India’s decision to build two hydroelectric water projects worth $ 15 billion in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has time and again expressed its objections over the development of power stations on the river Kishanganga, which is a tributary of river Jhelum, and the Ratle project on the Chenab river. It is understood that the flow of water would be disrupted due to the installation of two hydro projects which will directly affect 80 % of irrigated crops.
Pakistan is objecting to India’s decision to build two hydroelectric water projects worth $ 15 billion”
“I say the way you look at these projects, it is not purely a hydro project. Broaden it to a strategic water management, border management problem, and then you put in money,” the top-ranking official in the power ministry, Pradeep Kumar Pujari quoted in his response to the notice.
Pakistan has opposed India’s notice to modify the treaty. In its statement, Attorney General, Shehzad Ata Elahi’s office, called India’s move misleading. “Submission of a belated request for the resolution of disputes raised by Pakistan was a demonstration of India’s characteristic bad faith. The two countries have been arguing over hydroelectric projects (HEPs) on the shared Indus river and its tributaries for several years. The Treaty cannot be unilaterally modified. This is an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing proceedings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the Indus Waters Treaty,” said his office as a response to India’s notice.