Since the mid-2000s, both sides have been arguing about who gets to use the water. India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been pretty tough about sharing water with Pakistan since they took charge in 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even said in 2019 that India would keep all the water from the Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas Rivers for themselves, instead of letting it flow into Pakistan like it’s supposed to under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has used the treaty’s rules for resolving arguments three times. First, they asked the World Bank to pick someone fair to look at a power project in India that might give them too much control over a river. That person said India’s plan was okay in 2007. Then, Pakistan asked for a court to decide about another project, but in 2013, the court didn’t fully side with either country.
Now, India is upset because Pakistan doesn’t like another Indian dam project. Construction is supposed to start soon. Pakistan asked the World Bank to decide again in 2016, and India wanted a different kind of expert. The World Bank started both processes in 2017, making Indian officials mad. They even said they might not listen to what the court says.
India’s Demand for Changes is New India and Pakistan have argued about this treaty before, but India’s latest move is different. They’re asking to change the treaty through the Permanent Indus Commission, a group that deals with treaty stuff. This suggests India might be serious about making changes, which they haven’t done before.
But it’s not clear what India really wants. They say Pakistan is being stubborn, but if India wants new rules that help them more, why would Pakistan agree? Maybe India thinks they can scare Pakistan into agreeing. Or maybe they’re ready to break the treaty and do what they want, even if it makes them look bad.
But either of those plans could backfire. Pakistan won’t agree to changes that hurt them, and India doesn’t want to start a big fight, especially now when they’re hosting important meetings. So, India might just be trying to show they’re annoyed with Pakistan and the World Bank.
A Tricky Move for India India might be using this demand as leverage to pressure Pakistan on other issues, like terrorism. It could also help them look strong before the next election. But if Pakistan doesn’t agree soon, India will have to do something or look weak. That could lead to more tension between them, risking the peace in Kashmir.
Even though water conflicts aren’t common, messing up this treaty could make things worse between India and Pakistan. And even though India wants to look good internationally, they might put their own interests first, even if it means breaking agreements. Let’s hope they don’t get themselves into trouble
