Pakistan needs to establish ‘water diplomacy’ to ensure water security vis-à-vis its neighbors: experts
by Kaswar Klasra
Islamabad: Pakistan needs to establish ‘water mechanisms’ to ensure water security vis-à-vis its neighbors, experts said.
They argued that Pakistan is a water-stressed country, and hence, ‘water diplomacy’ needs to become part of Pakistan’s policy dialogues with its partners both at the bilateral and multilateral level.
“Pakistan is faced with both internal and external issues of water management. In the case of Pakistan and India, both are dividing water, not sharing it. The challenge both countries face is how to make the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) work, which has been made superfluous since the Baglihar Dam issue,” Pakistan’s former foreign Secretary and now Director General ISSI Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said.
Another challenge, he said, is the politicization of water issues in the region, which needs to be avoided to find adequate solution among regional states.
Mr. Chaudhary was speaking at a seminar arranged by The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP), Institute of Strategic Studies on “Envisioning New Water Diplomacy in South Asia,” held in Islamabad on March 9, 2021.
Participating in the discussion, former Ambassador Mr. Shafqat Kakakhel said that trans-boundary water issues require cooperation between riparian countries.
“Most South Asian countries share river basins and have various bilateral agreements on water like Indus Water Treaty (Pakistan-India), Ganges Treaty (India-Bangladesh), and Mahakali Treaty (India-Nepal). But unfortunately, India has played a spoilsport in all of these bilateral treaties. The regional countries need to include water in their discussions and examine existing treaties and try to plug holes in them,” Kakakhel said adding that water and climate Change issues need to be separated from political agendas in South Asia, which is already one of the least integrated regions in the world.
According to Mr. Mehmood, another panelist, new ways of cooperation need to be forged to tackle water issues in South Asia.
“Data sharing is one such method which can help in water diplomacy. A central body needs to be created in Pakistan which should deal with regional and trans-boundary water issues taking suggestions from across the region. Pakistan should take a leadership role in developing a water vision for the region,” Mr. Ashfaq Mehmood, former Federal Secretary, Water & Power said.
It is worth noting that Pakistan and India, both are water-stretched countries and signed the Indus Water Treaty.
Analysts and experts in Pakistan believe that India has been enjoying a favorable position over Pakistan since the signing of the IWT.
“India has taken aggressive and proactive steps to make IWT redundant and compromise the water supply to Pakistan. Building of water capacity in Pakistan is of utmost importance. For that, an integrated approach to water sector is needed. The country mismanages its water resources, and is also faced with environmental and growing population problems. Pakistan needs to strengthen the existing water treaties it has and try to have a comprehensive approach in water policy formulation,” Mr. Allahdad, former Director, World Bank said.
Experts say, Pakistan and India need to evaluate Indus Water Treaty to achieve maximum benefits.
“Indus Basin governance needs to be evaluated according to the current situation rather than looking to the past. Water needs to be seen as an economic commodity and water pricing is therefore important. Indus Basin needs to be respected with regards to ecosystem management,” Dr. Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Consultant World Bank said.
He added that with regards to water diplomacy with India, water should also be given equal importance as Kashmir.
“Strong relations are needed with Afghanistan and Iran on water and need focused approach. Ecosystem protection needs to be a shared responsibility across trans boundary countries,” he added.
