ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif Tuesday said that India is not cooperating in the implementation of Indus Water treaty and Pakistan has serious concerns over the designs and infrasture of Indian water projects.
He was addressing a seminar titled “Indus Water Treaty: Issues and Recommendations` organized by Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad on Tuesday. He said India was violating the basic principles of the treaty which is dangerous for peace and stability in the region. He said both the countries are duty bound to implement the treaty.
Pakistan is fulfilling its share of responsibility with respect to Indus Water Treaty and would not accept any unilateral modification by India.
He said any unilateral plans by India aimed at modifying the terms of the Treaty will not be acceptable to Pakistan. He said the World Bank must play its due constructive role to resolve the issue as India has deliberately delayed the resolution.
Khawaja Asif said Pakistan has always expressed its willingness to resolve all issues with India including the water distribution problem, through dialogue.
He said India constructed various projects in violation of the treaty and did not provide their designs to Pakistan. The foreign minister said that the India has been damaging Pakistan’s hydel and agricultural projects.
Asif termed the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty an important one between the two countries. “It is in the interest of both India and Pakistan to honour the treaty,” said Asif.
The Foreign Minister stressed the need for conservation of water and said the provincial governments will have to deal with this issue. He said water could be saved by implementing the modern irrigation system. At the same time he said work will have to be started on war footing to construct small and major water reservoirs if the country has to be saved from drought like situation.
He said water is the precious most natural resource and this source has gained more importance in view of global warming. He said the future energy projects would also depend on water resources.
INP