PM Nawaz says India can't leave Indus Water Treaty unilaterally

By
Asif Bhatti
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top civil-military leadership on Wednesday held a detailed review of national security situation and mounting tensions with India.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presided the meeting which was attended by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, members of the federal cabinet and senior defence officials.

In a clear message to the Modi government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said India could not withdraw unilaterally form the Indus Water Treaty. The prime minister emphasised that the treaty was brokered by the World Bank.

The meeting also held a detailed review human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) where since July over 115 Kashmiris have been martyred.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan demonstrated exemplary patience in the face of threats and provocation by the neighboring arch-rival. The meeting reaffirmed that the armed forces and the nation were prepared to defend the homeland against any aggression.

On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with officials to review provisions of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

According to Indian media, New Delhi ruled out cancelling the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan but is looking for ways of increasing its use of waters that flow from India but are controlled by Pakistan. During the meeting Modi was quoted as saying “water and blood can’t flow at the same time”.

India media quoted official sources as saying the meeting decided to suspend further water talks and increase the utilisation of rivers flowing through Occupied Kashmir to maximise India’s share.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra and other officials. The decision to review the treaty with Pakistan comes following the Uri attack in Occupied Kashmir in which 18 Indian soldiers killed.

Former Indus Water Commissioner Jamat Ali Shah also on Monday slammed India for threatening to block the flow of water into Pakistan's Indus river. "What should we believe of what the Indian PM says: ending poverty or blocking flow of water into Pakistan," he said. "This is open economic terrorism."

The former commissioner expressed fears that if the Indus Water Treaty ended then neighboring arch-rival may build up dams on Jhelum and Chenab rivers.