NEW DELHI: Indus water talks between Pakistan and India are set to resume on Monday (today), amid warnings of imminent shortage in the region due to climate change and harsh abuse.
The broader backdrop of depleting resources and melting glaciers could speed up the two-day talks and a Pakistan delegation led by Indus Water Commissioner Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah arrived here on Sunday to resume talks.
Sources said a better environment was expected for sensitive and in-depth talks, which always involve water sharing.
The two sides had their last meeting in Islamabad in March, where Pakistan’s objection to Indian hydroelectric projects was raised as the two countries scorched white heat. Floods and intertwined flow of water are two aspects of the problem, both natural and man-made.
“There will be talks on sharing of flood forecast data, while the annual report of PCIW (Pakistan Indus Water Commission) will also be discussed during the talks,” Chief Representative of Pakistan Mehr Ali Shah said.
In previous talks, Pakistan had shared its reservations on the spillway and freeboard of the Pakal Dul project, and sought to visit the site in early May. India has rejected the suggestion and hence the Pakistani delegation will not visit the site.
“The Pakistani delegation will not visit the under-construction Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnaz dams, but the matter and other projects will be taken up with India,” said Pakistan’s commissioner for Indus Waters Mehr Ali Shah.
“Pakistan has always insisted on implementing the Indus Waters Treaty and raised its voice on India’s behavior in a time-bound manner,” Shah said.
The discussion on the matter may be made a part of the Annual Report and Minutes of the PCIW.
Sherry Rehman, head of the task force on climate change set up by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, warned this week that Pakistan is one of the world’s three most water-stressed countries and could become a deficit-hit country by 2025 if steps are not taken. could. Taken for conservation and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Analysts say Indian fundamentalists have often spoken of diverting the waters of rivers flowing into Pakistan, but that would be an act of war.
In March, both India and Pakistan had agreed and reiterated their commitment to truly implement the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The treaty mandates the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) to maintain cooperative arrangements for the implementation of the Agreement and to promote cooperation between the two parties for the development of water systems.
The treaty mandates the PICs to meet alternately between India and Pakistan at least once a year.
The IWT has been the cornerstone of the sharing of the waters of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan, and the Government of India is committed to bilaterally addressing all matters within the scope of the treaty with Pakistan through appropriate mechanisms in accordance with the IWT. Is.
Published in Dawn, May 30, 2022