This is apropos a Business Recorder op-ed 'Mischief on the waterfront economy' carried by the newspaper yesterday. The writer argued, among other things, "The IWT survived the two wars as well as other Pakistan-India conflicts because none of them was termed a war under international law. They were armed conflicts short of the legal status of "war". In the event of a war, states are entitled to suspend treaties, including diplomatic relations. In fact, if India considers revoking the treaty, it is itself signaling the same to be an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan. This will equip Pakistan with the right under international law to take up any other coercive or non-coercive measure as an act of reprisal."
The writer, however, seems to have ignored the current BJP government's strategy in relation to Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - the three eastern rivers. It seems to have been working to reduce the flows of these three rivers into Pakistan with a view to squeezing its agriculture. It has also been learnt that India is also working towards using waters of these three rivers to irrigate more land by bringing more acres of land under these waters.
Last but not least, one must not lose sight of the BJP government's machinations. In September this year, for example, a public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court of India challenging the validity of the Indus Water Treaty on 'grounds' that it was signed by the prime minister of India who is not head of the Indian republic. The president is the official head of the republic.
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