Guns have fallen silent, skies are silent, and drone roar is over, but water war may drag on in the region, if India\u2019s new plans to slash water flow to Pakistan in the Indus are to be believed. India is reportedly planning to divert more water from the Indus River system, which provides vital water to Pakistan\u2019s farms and hydropower.
\nThese moves are being seen as a response to an April attack in Indian-held Kashmir, which India blames on Pakistan. After this incident, India suspended its role in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), an agreement signed in 1960 to peacefully share water from the Indus river system.
\nIndia\u2019s government is now discussing ways to increase water usage from rivers like the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus, which are meant mainly for Pakistan\u2019s use. A key plan is to double the Ranbir Canal to fetch more water to stay in India. This could reduce water reaching Punjab, where nearly 80 per cent of farms rely on the Indus.
\nExperts say that even though these projects would take years to complete, the threat is real. In early May, we briefly saw up to 90pc less water at a major intake point due to Indian maintenance work.
\nIndia is also planning to construct new dams and storage projects and wants to quadruple its hydropower output in the occupied Kashmir territory. These actions are unlawful, and water must not be used as a weapon.
\nWe will not sit as silent onlookers; India must be conveyed. The World Bank, which helped shape the IWT, should tell India that there is no clause for suspending the treaty.
\nIt can only be changed by agreement from both countries. If India uses water as leverage, it could set a dangerous example, especially with China, which can potentially control upstream rivers.
\nWe must be ready for the water conflict which may be just beginning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Guns have fallen silent, skies are silent, and drone roar is over, but water war may drag on in the region, if India\u2019s new plans to slash water flow to Pakistan in the Indus are to be believed. India is reportedly planning to divert more water from the Indus River system, which provides vital water […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-479191","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorial"},"yoast_head":"\n