Pakistan Readying Countermeasure Against India's Water Treaty Suspension, as Per Minister's Announcement
Pakistan Readies Multiple Legal Actions Against India's Indus Waters Treaty Suspension
Listen up, folks! Pakistan is gearing up for some international law showdown over India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. That's what Aqeel Malik, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, told Reuters. Tensions are on the rise between the neighbors, following an attack on tourists in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Malik shared that Pakistan is developing plans for at least three different legal moves. One of these involves approaching the World Bank, as it serves as the treaty's facilitator. They're also considering action at the Permanent Court of Arbitration or the International Court of Justice in the Hague. At the ICJ, Pakistan might allege India has violated the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
Malik said that legal strategy discussions are pretty much wrapped up, and decisions on what cases to pursue will be made soon. Multi-pronged action is on the cards, likely including more than one approach. The Indian water resources officials have yet to comment on this matter.
India kicked off the suspension of the World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 following the attack in Occupied Kashmir. They stated it would remain in effect until Pakistan firmly abandons its support for cross-border terrorism. Islamabad denies any involvement in the attack, where 26 individuals lost their lives. India alleges two of the three assailants they've identified are from Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan has shut down all trade with India and closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
The treaty governs the distribution and use of waters from the Indus River and its tributaries, essential for 80% of Pakistan's irrigated agriculture and hydropower. Despite periodic hostility, the treaty has functioned until now.
Aside from legal action, Pakistan is also thinking about raising the issue at the United Nations Security Council. Malik emphasized that the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally and isn't intended to be put on hold.
The US has condemned the Pahalgam attack but remains neutral on the IIOJK issue. There's a retired head of India's Central Water Commission, Kushvinder Vohra, who thinks Pakistan has limited options in response to India’s actions. Experts suggest India cannot halt water flows right away because the treaty has only allowed India to build hydropower plants without significant storage or dams on the rivers allocated to Pakistan. Nevertheless, farmers, already struggling with climate-change impacts, have expressed concerns about the long-term effects.
[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Waters_Treaty[2] indusindus.org/news/india-suspends-indus-waters-treaty-pakistan-denies-responsibility-for-kashmir-attack[3] marsddc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/South-Asia-Water-Diplomacy.pdf
- Aqeel Malik, the Minister of State for Law and Justice in Pakistan, revealed that Pakistan is preparing multiple legal actions against India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
- Malik indicated that these legal moves might include approaching the World Bank, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, or the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
- In a possible case at the International Court of Justice, Pakistan might allege that India has violated the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
- The Indus Waters Treaty, a World Bank-mediated treaty signed in 1960, governs the distribution and use of waters from the Indus River and its tributaries.
- In addition to legal action, Pakistan is considering bringing the issue to the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing that the treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally.
- Kushvinder Vohra, a retired head of India's Central Water Commission, suggested that Pakistan has limited options in response to India’s actions regarding the treaty suspension.
- Environmental scientists and experts have expressed concerns about the long-term effects on agriculture and hydropower in Pakistan, given the critical role the treaty plays in these areas.
