Pakistan Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif.
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khwaja Asif announced on Wednesday night that India’s top civilian and military leadership will meet on Thursday to decide the response in response to India’s postponement of the Indus Water Treaty, cuts in diplomatic relations and other rigorous steps. This meeting has been called in response to India’s tough steps after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. 26 people were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack and the terrorists identified the followers of Hinduism and fired bullets on them.
What did Pakistan’s Defense Minister say?
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Asif said in his statement, ‘A meeting of the National Security Committee will be held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Decisions will be taken to give appropriate answer to Indian steps. The meeting will include Chief Cabinet Ministers along with Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force. Such meetings are commonly called to discuss serious issues related to national security. After the heinous terrorist incident in Pahalgam, fingers are being raised once again on Pakistan, and it is believed that the Indian government can take more strict action right now.
India has taken many strict steps
India has taken many strict steps, linking the Pahalgam terrorist attack with Pakistan sponsored terrorism. In New Delhi, 5 major decisions were taken in the CCS meeting of security affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
Postponing the Indus Water Treaty: The Indus Water Agreement between India and Pakistan in 1960 has been postponed with immediate effect. This decision will remain in force until Pakistan stops supporting terrorism across the border. Cut in diplomatic relations: The total number of people deployed in the highways will be reduced from 55 to 30 to 30 from May 01, 2025 and through cuts. The Defense, Military, Navy, and air advisors of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared unwanted individuals (Persona Non Grata), who will have to leave India within a week. Attari border closed: The Attari Integrated Investigation Outpost has been closed with immediate effect. Indian citizens who went to Pakistan with valid documents will be allowed to return by 1 May 2025. Visa ban on Pakistani citizens: Pakistani citizens will not be allowed to visit India under SAARC Visa Rebate Scheme (Sves). All Sves visas previously issued have been canceled, and Pakistani citizens in India have been ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. Return of Indian Staff: India has decided to recall the defense, Navy, and air advisors from its high age in Islamabad. These posts will now be considered canceled in the highways of both countries.
These decisions were announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Egyptian at a press conference. He said that the CCS has resolved to justify the criminals and their sponsors of the Pahalgam attack.
What is Indus Water Agreement?
Indus Waters Treaty is a historic water distribution agreement between India and Pakistan on 19 September 1960 in Karachi. It was medically meditated by the World Bank, and was signed by the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and the then President of Pakistan Field Marshal Ayub Khan. The agreement controls the water sharing of the Indus River and its five tributaries, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Who got what in this agreement?
Under the Indus Water Agreement, water and other resources of rivers have been divided in India and Pakistan. These rivers are divided into eastern and western rivers. India has been given full control over Eastern rivers i.e. Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, which he can use for power generation, agriculture, and other needs without any restriction. At the same time, most of the water of Western rivers i.e. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab has been allocated to Pakistan, but India is allowed to use limited use (eg, non-educated use and power generation) on these rivers.
According to the agreement, Pakistan gets 80 percent of the Indus river system, while the rest of the water comes in the part of India. The Indus Water Commission meetings are held regularly between the two countries to resolve the implementation and disputes of the agreement. The last meeting was held on 30-31 May 2022 in New Delhi, which was said to be cordial by both countries. However, now India has announced to ban the Indus Water Agreement, which can have a very bad effect on Pakistan.
Impact of Pakistan’s postponement on Pakistan
The Indus Water Agreement is like a lifeline for Pakistan, as this country is highly dependent on the Indus and its tributaries for its agriculture, drinking water, and industrial needs. India’s decision to postpone the agreement may have a serious and multidimensional impact on Pakistan:
Water crisis: Pakistan’s economy, especially agriculture, depends on the river system. The water of this system irrigates more than 17 lakh acres of agricultural land in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces. If India stops or diverts the water of Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), a serious water crisis can arise in Pakistan, which will reduce crop production. Danger on food security: About 70% of Pakistan’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. Lack of water will affect the production of major crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton, which can lead to an increase in food insecurity and prices. Energy Crisis: Pakistan receives a large part of its power generation capacity from hydroelectric projects, depending on the Indus river system. Lack of water supply will affect power generation, allowing the already existing energy crisis in the country. Economic loss: Pakistan’s economy will get a huge shock due to water crisis and decrease in agricultural production. According to the World Bank estimate, the cultivation of the Indus River Valley is highly fertile and if it is affected, then the GDP of Pakistan can already reach a worse condition. Social unrest: Water and food crisis may increase social unrest and protests in Pakistan, especially in rural areas where people are already facing financial crisis. Apart from this, there is already a war in the states of Pakistan over the water of Sidhu river.
What can Pakistan do now?
Pakistan can take the matter to the World Bank or other international forums, as the agreement was in the World Bank’s mediation. However, India has already refused to participate in the proceedings of the Hague’s Permanent Arbitration Court, which can weaken Pakistan’s legal status. If seen in this way, Pakistan does not have any special fodder left. Let us know that in 1948, India stopped the water of two major canals, causing 17 lakh acres of land for water in Pakistani Punjab. Now once again, there may be a severe water crisis in Pakistan.
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