Islamabad: India’s approach to water management, particularly during the monsoon season, is increasingly seen as a strategic maneuver against Pakistan, raising significant concerns over regional stability and adherence to international agreements.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a report released on World Rivers Day highlights India’s alleged manipulation of river courses to exacerbate flooding in Pakistan. This strategic flooding threatens agriculture, undermines food security, and risks transforming fertile areas into deserts, escalating socio-economic challenges in Pakistan. Observers note that these actions could violate the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), a critical water-sharing agreement between the two nations established in 1960.
Experts suggest that India’s management of water resources reflects a broader strategy of asserting regional dominance and diverting attention from domestic issues, such as human rights abuses in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The construction of multiple dams on rivers flowing into Pakistan has prompted fears of severe water scarcity and called into question the sustainability of regional water supplies.
Critics argue that India’s practices contravene international laws, urging global intervention to ensure compliance with established norms and treaties. The Pakistani government seeks greater international scrutiny of India’s unilateral water management decisions, which they claim undermine the IWT and broader international norms.
As tensions escalate, the potential weaponization of water resources by India could pose grave threats to bilateral and regional peace. The situation demands urgent attention from the international community to uphold adherence to legal agreements, particularly in times of natural disasters, to prevent further instability and humanitarian crises.