India should honour Indus Water Treaty: Khawaja Asif
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LAHORE: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif on Monday said that India should honour the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and warned that Pakistan will face a severe water shortage in the next few years.
He said Pakistan wants to resolve water issues with its eastern neighbour and added that, "We will contest our case at an appropriate forum if India encroaches upon our water rights."
Addressing a function in the provincial capital city of Punjab, the federal minister said the government would resolve the issue of electricity loadshedding faced by the country within three years but at the moment Pakistan was heading towards a serious water shortage.
Asif said that the issues of electricity loadshedding and water scarcity were a result of mismanagement by previous governments.
Read: Water shortage looming, warns Khawaja Asif
He warned that Pakistan can face a severe drought within the next few years and the country is not prepared to handle such a situation.
Asif said that the issue of water scarcity is long-term and cannot be resolved within two to three years.
The water and power minister further said that in this regard, the government is preparing a comprehensive long-term plan to enhance water storage capacity, under which several small and big water reservoirs will be built after consensus with all stakeholders.
The federal minister said that construction of dams was a matter of life and death now and the country faces devastating floods due to the lack of water storage facilities.
He said that the resolution of such issues should be found after considering national interests.
IWT signed with India in 1961 under the aegis of the World Bank stipulated that the flow from the three Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) will be for the exclusive use of Pakistan while the three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Sutlej and Beas) will be for India’s use.
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Comments (102) Closed
Mar 09, 2015 01:40pm
mr. minister where is kalabagh dam? you let india make thousands of dams on our waters, just now you wake up and saying india holding our waters?
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Mar 09, 2015 01:43pm
But in bilateral dialogue between two countries , there is no agenda except kashmir issue !
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Mar 09, 2015 01:46pm
Do nothing just keep shouting why you are or the government is waiting why you are blaming pervious governments you were also the part of previous government stop blame game do some thing good for the people and the country. Now you have the government put Pakistan on the right direction if you cannot do this then why you guys are in the government go home and relax with your family.
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Mar 09, 2015 01:57pm
Build dams. Dont rely on India so much.
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Mar 09, 2015 01:58pm
Hand over Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and 26/11 mastermind lakhvi to India.
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Mar 09, 2015 01:58pm
Asif will talk only. Tell india has to follow the contract.
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Mar 09, 2015 01:59pm
@Dwaraka Nath
Kashmir is one of the main agendas of dialogue. Even the recent Mufti in Kashmir is up for talks with Pakistan. (Angering Modi Sahab).
Btw Kashmir is where the Indus river system starts. Ganges system is not linked directly to Kashmir.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:00pm
"We will contest our case at an appropriate forum if India encroaches upon our water rights."
Plz go ahead who is stopping you,btw you lost all the case in so called appropriate forum.Talk big do less
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Mar 09, 2015 02:01pm
What exactly is the problem?
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Mar 09, 2015 02:04pm
@Dwaraka Nath Dawaraka Ji you have always avoided to telk on all issues by moving out under one pretex or anpother. I can assure you that presently there is great affection for India on this side of the border. Waht about your side ? have you stopped throwing stones at buses coming to India with Pakistani players? Such things don#t happen on this side .
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Mar 09, 2015 02:05pm
Pakistan should bring water from Tibet with Chinese asssitance to be better prepared for future droughts.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:05pm
Pakistan is plowing the road for one more confrontation with India. Trust me , even if Kashmir is solved Pak eill come up with a new ghost to keep the war drums beating. Pak army wont let its importance slide down. Constant threat is the only way Pak army can keep its importance and corner plots . Ordinanry Pakisatn have no clue how many amy kids are studying in Canada, Wonder what is the pay scale of an army officer in Pak ?
Et these are facts, plz check Canadian unviseritis , filled with Pak army kids...
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Mar 09, 2015 02:06pm
Then why are you not following Shimla agreement which clearly states that Kashmir is a bilateral issue. But you are always talking about it in UN and writing letters to UN. So if you are not following other treaties why should INDIA follow INDUS Treaty? LOL...
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Mar 09, 2015 02:10pm
Wait a minute!
1. He was defense minister but now a water minister?
2. 3 rivers flowing from the west for Pakistan while3 rivers flowing from the east for India!. So what is crying about?
CRY ME A RIVER!!!!!!!!!!
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Mar 09, 2015 02:11pm
Mr. Khwaja, tell that to your own ministers who are not willing to discuss anything other than Kashmir. You have already lost all respect and electricity, you will lose water also!
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Mar 09, 2015 02:12pm
Be like civilised nations and for God's sake sort the differences out!
I hate it when Indian and Pakistani argument goes on these forms! We in Europe get on with Indians as they are our family and we get the same response from them!
Try it honestly it's amazing feeling!
And where kashmir comes let them decide what they want!
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Mar 09, 2015 02:12pm
Why isn't the water and power ministry taking this issue to international forum...and build pressure on India to honor its commitment, this is the only way.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:13pm
India has honored IWT even during peiod of wars in 1965, 1971 and 1999. Whenever you ahve gone to international arbitration accusing India of breaching IWT, you have lost the case. Stop lying to our people and dragging India. The impending water shortage is because Pakistan's poplation is 6.5 times that of 1951 and yet there has been no sognifican investment in dams and check dams and 80% of Indus water flows to the sea.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:15pm
Kashmiris are already unhappy about IWT and their rivers given away to Pakistan...wonder what will happen to them if they join Pakistan. They should look at how Sindh is treated by Punjab on Kalabagh dam issue.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:16pm
Again blaming foreign countries for own mismanagement.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:16pm
India should honor Indus water treaty...by that premise, India is stealing water and constructing dams as an upper riparian country. Where is the agenda and the strategy of the government to counter this.
Need huge diplomacy and other endeavors, otherwise India will keep on stealing water.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:24pm
And shouldn't pakistan honor its own citizens by ensuring proper utilization of water and stopping wastage
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Mar 09, 2015 02:27pm
Don't know why Pakistani rulers object India's hydel power projects in Kashmir.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:29pm
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif on Monday said that India should honour the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and warned that Pakistan will face a severe water shortage in the next few years.
You people have doomed Pakistan instead of about your water shortage you should go to the court to pressure India on honoring its commitment. Enough of apologetic approach
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Mar 09, 2015 02:30pm
@Dwaraka Nath - But why you get so touchy, its disputed too.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:34pm
Don't you remember the promises you and your leaders made before the elections should be honourd.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:36pm
One more reason to fight with somebody, mulla jatt nation. Can make metros not dams, when neighbours were investing in dams, Pakistan was investing in F-16 and Islamic bomb. Now problem is why other have invested in their future, NOT on ego like us.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:36pm
In India Defense Minister talks only security related matters. It looks in Pakistan, Defense Minister can talk about water resources, bilateral agreements and anything!!! great, no wonder Pakistan is in this condition today!
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Mar 09, 2015 02:42pm
Indus Water Treaty too old now (65 years) --- new treaty needed.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:46pm
If too much water than India responsible. And if too less water, still India responsible. I guess some elections may be approaching..
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Mar 09, 2015 02:51pm
@Haider Rehman He is talking about Drought situation. Dam needs water and it's sources are in India.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:55pm
According to a recent report Pakistan wastes more water than quarter of the world's population.
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Mar 09, 2015 02:58pm
if there is any merit in the case then contest it at international forums...why are you blaming Indian for all the malice prevailing in Pakistan???
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Mar 09, 2015 03:03pm
@Leo. "Why isn't the water and power ministry taking this issue to international forum...and build pressure on India to honor its commitment, this is the only way."
Leo, your minister is just trying to eyewash. They are blaming India for their (pak govt.) own failure. There is no truth whatever he says. The truth is as follow:-
>Asif said that the issues of electricity loadshedding and water scarcity were a result of mismanagement by previous governments.
What Asif is not saying that the current government is also doing same thing (mismanagement).
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Mar 09, 2015 03:08pm
"if India encroaches". There has been no encroachment. You are talking of a hypothetical scenario. Don't you have nay "real" and "current" issues to fix in your country?
Word for the wise, look at rain water harvesting and other techniques from right now. Be proactive and not reactive Mr. minister.
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Mar 09, 2015 03:14pm
Find some way out, instead of blaming India. If there is a will, there is a way.
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Mar 09, 2015 03:16pm
It is a pity that our leaders talk without the due study of the background. Indus Water Treaty was signed in Sept. 1960 and not 1961 as stated in the story. And, the Hon. Minister should know the provisions of the treaty before giving statements.
Works under the Treaty had a plan and applicable designs for comprehensive "Replacement Works" that were financed by the World Bank Consortium including India as a major funds provider. The works planned, designed and constructed ( till 19976) under a phased program had included construction of Water Storage Dams and a huge network of link canals to all surrendered to India rivers so as to continue supplying water stored in Dams and running the already existing Head-works on those rivers under the Treaty.
Unfortunately, we stopped the works under the Plan after 1976 completion of Tarbela Dam under the political will of a few. All other downstream dams were therefore never undertaken as they were not possible without upstream links. This is the only reason for our very serious water starvation and frankly speaking, India is not at all at fault in it. It is our own indifference and lack of political will despite very strong technical exigencies.
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Mar 09, 2015 03:20pm
Give our Kashmir
Let go Baluchistan (Independence).
Then..........
No dialogue & no relation with Pakistan.
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Mar 09, 2015 03:21pm
@Dwaraka Nath but again if india disregards another international sponsored treaty, then 2nd problem on the agenda. Last time India got slapped down by world bank representatives and had to amend the design to suit pakistan. Only country India, that breaches international agreements, and ofcourse Israel.
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Mar 09, 2015 03:30pm
India is big hurdle for Pakistan ... since the efforts made by Muslim leader India used to degrade Pakistan .... n used every possible tactics ... seems likely to b succeed... the problems never resolve by India, it want to hang Pakistan in problems.....
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Mar 09, 2015 03:31pm
The minister is a wise guy.
No body was noticing him.
Now he is in limelight by raising the India bogey.
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Mar 09, 2015 03:32pm
After eading the comments I came to the conclusion that ordinary citizen of this country does not understand IWT. Foir the sake of public awareness media should play its role in this regards
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Mar 09, 2015 03:43pm
Seems an attempt by this minister to be in the news.Intetnational Court at Hague gave its decision on some water woes of Pakistan.What more now.As a defence minister he is made to be a fence sitter by army now some thing to be said to be in the news.
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Mar 09, 2015 04:08pm
more and more amt spending on militery is now seems to be useless.there is no threat from any country . people want water and electricity bread home etc etc not atom bombs or missiles etc etc.water storage be given 1st priority keeping all subject aside.india made over 100 dams after independence and we are getting results.after all it is upto the people of pakistan how they can give pressure to administators.
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Mar 09, 2015 04:15pm
For those who think that India is skimming Pakistan of water, the following link will open your minds:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1128132/pakistans-water-woes-should-not-be-blamed-on-bogeyman-india
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Mar 09, 2015 04:29pm
Tell us which treaty you are following correctly...LOL
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Mar 09, 2015 04:32pm
@Haider Rehman "Btw Kashmir is where the Indus river system starts. "
Jhelum is the only river that originates in Kashmir. The rest all outside it:
Indus, Sutlej: Tibet
Chenab, Ravi, Beas: Himachal Pradesh
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Mar 09, 2015 04:42pm
@zak - You are a genius man.. I yearn for your comments.
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Mar 09, 2015 04:48pm
@zak Zak you are always so intelligent with your posts!!!
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Mar 09, 2015 04:52pm
but who would listen - across the border - to this corruptly elected govt and their name sake officials or so called ministers ? India know it this govt is breathing its last.. they are not interested in listening our pleas...
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Mar 09, 2015 05:10pm
Every body is happy with more than hundred nuclear bombs, thousands missiles now Shaheen-III, no draught in Pakistan, don't worry. Start building dams and develop the watering system, if draught, settle Kashmir and use Indian dams
and Indian Punjab Water channels, best in the region.
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Mar 09, 2015 05:19pm
Pakistan has a lot of water.......what it does not have is the will to manage it.
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Mar 09, 2015 05:27pm
@Sajjad Khan on your side of the border...defence budget is it greater than for education ?......invest in education!....increase your number of engineers, invest in dam building!...and not in making bombs......
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Mar 09, 2015 05:35pm
@saba
So what? LOL...
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Mar 09, 2015 05:36pm
For those who think that India is skimming Pakistan of water, the following link will open your minds:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1128132/pakistans-water-woes-should-not-be-blamed-on-bogeyman-india
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Mar 09, 2015 05:39pm
@Pak-Patriot and still Pak can manage water resources by increasing water storing capacity within next five to ten years if there is a political will.
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Mar 09, 2015 05:41pm
As per UN, IWT is the most successful natural resources treaty in the world, between any two nations. Enough said.
Kashmir issue is not about religion or love for the people of Kashmir. Kashmir issues is essentially "water" issue. All rivers that irrigate the north-west ( Pakistan) and north Indian plains, originate in Kashmir. Whoever control Kashmir, controls the water and thus is self-sufficient in food & water.
Pakistan wants kashmir's waters, more than kashmir's people or culture. Pakistan should come out in the open now.
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Mar 09, 2015 05:52pm
Minister sahib please please make Dams for the sake of Common people, India still building average 3 dams per year & honestly how many you built every year? A Good Excuse to hide own incompetency.
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Mar 09, 2015 06:03pm
One thing is very common in Pakistani politicians...all the time, they want to blame India for something instead of working for the welfare of Pakistani people, or development of the country. Can they do without being selfish for only 2 years....I think it is time to do something else because what they have been doing for the last 60 years hasn't work....has it?
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Mar 09, 2015 06:05pm
As far as I am aware, India has honoured the IWT to the letter. Even in the case of the Baglihar project, the world bank (a signatory to the IWT) ruled in India's favour. God forbid there be a flood in Pakistan. My worry is, India will be an easy target. Instead of maligning Pakistan's lack of basic water management systems like dams and reservoirs, India will be blamed in such a scenario. I feel the politicians (and even babus) in Pakistan have it too easy sometimes. Claim credit for all the good, and blame India for all the bad. Can someone give me a clear example of when the Indus Water Treaty was clearly violated by India?
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Mar 09, 2015 06:12pm
@Zak International sponsored treaty? Pakistan and India penned it together. Note that the treaty has been honored during each and every war as well. Also, Pakistan has infact taken India to court over the construction of Baglihar project. Also note that more than 80% of the Indus water goes unutilized and straight to sea. Now, this is water shortage due to water wastage and has nothing to do with India.
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Mar 09, 2015 06:13pm
War on water is imminent. Forget about Kashmir, Sachin and all other disputes. If India breaks the treaty and people start starving due to lack of water then there is no way but a do or die war. I hope it never comes to that.
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Mar 09, 2015 06:15pm
And they want to make metroes and motorway instead of dams. He should be ashamed of telling us of water shortages in coming years instead of building dams.
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Mar 09, 2015 06:23pm
Pakistan has honest, capable, and talented leadership. They can solve all issues including hunger, poverty and health, if they have capability to abolish the corrupt or bribery practice. If not than these all sad songs will be sung for next many decades as a candy to masses.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:07pm
But Kashmir is the most important issue, isn't..?
who cares water if we can get additional piece of land after all water isn't all that important for survival.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:12pm
@Haider Rehman
"Btw Kashmir is where the Indus river system starts. Ganges system is not linked directly to Kashmir."
That is not correct, Indus origin is in Tibet
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Mar 09, 2015 07:14pm
This become a norm in Pakistan. Mismanagement of Govt., but blame on India. People will charge up ...start shouting Anti-India slogan, like here in comments section. and nobody will look into mismanagement of affairs of Govt. Enjoy the show!!!
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Mar 09, 2015 07:20pm
Why there is a picture on the wall behind him, with an atheist Gujarati lawyer from Bombay?
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Mar 09, 2015 07:20pm
@Rahul Mishra You better return Indian occupied Kashmir
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Mar 09, 2015 07:25pm
Why???
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Mar 09, 2015 07:40pm
@M. Emad .. I agree, in old IWT 82 % water in Indus basin system was allotted to Pakistan and only 18 % to India. A new treaty will definitely more balanced and will address complaint of people in Kashmir Valley.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:52pm
LOL Always crying the victim. btw how many dams has Pakistan built since 1948 ? India has built 4500 +.
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Mar 09, 2015 07:59pm
Best would be for India to stop all water to Pakistan till a new treaty is in place.
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Mar 09, 2015 08:00pm
Pakistan should honour the rights of Indians and should not export terrorism in India.
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Mar 09, 2015 08:04pm
@Ajay vikram Singh I have more respect for Jinnah 's daughter ,who decided to live in india with her husband after partition . Today she is more happier than whole neighbor nation created by her father.
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Mar 09, 2015 08:08pm
This is a very important issue. Pakistan must do some thing about it, or Pakistan will starve to death without water in a few years, when India has diverted all the water from eastern rivers.
Under the Indus Basin Treaty, India was not supposed to interfere with Chenab, Jehlum and Sindh rivers. But she is building dams over those rivers, curtailing waters for Pakistan.
In a few years, water problem will be worse than power problem for Pakistan now, if proper steps are not taken on time.
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Mar 09, 2015 08:09pm
@Zakkky, wasay intl forums won't resolve our water disputes because it isone matter over which endia and pak can go to war. And internationally this thing has been noticed and observed. And if you know how arms sales goes in americas favor...
Unless they fear china jumping into war for us,(something usa and russia had feared in 65) and a 3rd world war starting.
What do you think?
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Mar 09, 2015 08:09pm
@Raju I am informed that India has fulfilled its responsibility under IWT religiously.Is my information right?
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Mar 09, 2015 08:17pm
@VT this is called ignorance.which they got heriditarily...so no blame.just let things settled down on the willing of God.
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Mar 09, 2015 08:32pm
Sir, is there anything else you would like for us to do?
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Mar 09, 2015 09:07pm
IWT needs to be renegotiated to address the modern challenges and concerns.
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Mar 09, 2015 09:11pm
India releases more water that the treaty guidelines but you guys are so innocent that all your problems are foreign conspiracies.
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Mar 09, 2015 09:30pm
Like they will listen to Khwaja Asif.
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Mar 09, 2015 09:57pm
And PAK busy in shooting gifted missiles...thus fooling whole nation.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:06pm
@zak Beggars cant be choosers. Mind what you wish.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:08pm
@Zak no one has stopped Pakistan from constructing dams or use water for storage. India has used the provisions provided in the treaty to construct dams on rivers. That is the reason neutral parties or international court of justice ruled in favour India whenever Pakistan objected. 1965, 1971 wars were initiated by Pakistan and so was Kargil. Indus water treaty was left intact because of India even though there were enough reasons to scrap the treaty with an aggressive western neighbour.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:10pm
Who bothers about treaties ? In the past if the interest of India was sacrificed by Nehru we have all the rights to set the things correct.
Has Pakistan fulfilled its commitments on Kashmir as per UN resolutions.. NO ..They will never withdraw troops from occupied Kashmir.
As I see it out of six rivers water of Only ONE should be given to Pakistan if you compare size and population of both countries..50:50 was a sell out by Nehru..
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Mar 09, 2015 10:15pm
@Sajjad Khan "have you stopped throwing stones at buses coming to India with Pakistani players? Such things don#t happen on this side ."
Srilankan players know what you guys do, not stones you shoot them.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:15pm
@Haider Rehman Every river in Indian subcontinent belong to Hindus.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:16pm
Are you honouring Shimla agreement?
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Mar 09, 2015 10:24pm
@muhammad How? With another Kargil?
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Mar 09, 2015 10:34pm
@Maxx Pakistanis need to understand, India is not violating the the treaty nor they stealing any water destined to Pakistan, as per the treaty India is allowed to generate electricity , even if India builds a dam it is generating electricity and releasing the water to Pakistan, that is the reason the tribunal did say that India is not violating the treaty when Pakistan went to them twice.
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Mar 09, 2015 10:56pm
Honour! what and which honour is he talking about. Does he and his party have one.
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Mar 09, 2015 11:04pm
question is what will u do about it?
Protesting alone will not solve the issue.
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Mar 09, 2015 11:29pm
c'mon pakistanis wake up! these leaders, politicians and establishments are just fooling their citizens. cause they know making India a scapegoat would save them from being questioned for their inabilities of making dams. no one is stealing water. it is coming to you after all but you are wasting it. had there been dams built over the years you wouldn't have faced this situation. its just you have engraved India as your enemy in your minds so strong that you cant ponder over your own mistakes. thats why no solution is coming out. if you honestly and sincerely introspect then you will realize how bad your govt and estabs have done to you by filling your minds with hatred against India and making it as an escape route for themselves.
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Mar 10, 2015 12:22am
@Indian , that guy was hanged who attacked srilankan bus . Dr usman.
And attackers werent common ppl like in godhra riots and stone hurlers .
Learn debating skills
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Mar 10, 2015 08:52am
Read the book "Undeclared Water War on Pakistan" to get the real facts!
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Mar 10, 2015 08:54am
@GEM Pundit jee Because Kashmir does not belong to Maha Bharat!
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Mar 10, 2015 11:21am
According to UN and UNICEF water reports, Indians are mismanaging their water resources and now trying to steal their neighbors' waters!
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Mar 10, 2015 11:37am
@Dhanku Water problem, Airpollution & next........?
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Mar 10, 2015 03:02pm
@Sandeep Singh - Every river just "belongs to Hindus", nothing for minorities?
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Mar 10, 2015 07:08pm
The best solution for water shortages is to build desalination plants on the coast for Pakistan's southern regions. Tarbela and Mangla dams are engineering feats and Pakistan's jewels in the crown which if utilized as originally intended (using downstream systems via canal irrigation) there would be far less controversy with India. It's interesting to note that the Indian govt in Rajasthan built extensive irrigation canals which Pakistan should have done in Tharpur, which is the Pakistan side of same desert as Rajasthan.
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