Jammu Tawi, September 27: It is not easy for India to seek revocation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 because of the vital role the World Bank has played in the formation of the Treaty.
Well Prime Minister, Modi has rightly said that blood and water cannot flow meaning that bloodshed of people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be compensated by giving water to Pakistan,
But India may not be able to secure abrogation of the Treaty but it can squeeze flow of water from the rivers flowing in Jammu and Kashmir. The excess water could be used for improving power generation, irrigation and earmarked storage. To the extent of 18000 MWs which can make Jammu and Kashmir not only self-sufficient in power but can also export it.
India could not fully utilize its earmarked share of water for power generation, irrigation and storage as authorised in IWT till date for reasons best known to the power that be.
The 1960 Indus Water Treaty, under which Pakistan enjoys the liberty of using water from the Indus, the Jehlum and the Chenab cannot be revoked unilaterally by India. In fact the World Bank mediated the treaty between India and Pakistan and only the World Bank can allow India to make limited release of water from its three rivers in case of drought. The 1960 World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan is considered one of the great success stories of water diplomacy, especially as it has survived the India-Pakistan wars of 1965, 1971, 1999, and much bad blood during and after the wars. Tension between the two countries is again at a peak following a terrorist strike in Kashmir, and some Indian commentators are speaking of reneging on the treaty as a non-military option to pressure Pakistan.
On September 18, 2016, an army base was attacked in the garrison town of Uri, near the Line of Control (LoC) that effectively divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Eighteen Indian army personnel and four terrorists were killed in the attack and India has blamed Pakistan-backed terrorists for it.
