Pakistan News And Discussion-10

[Naresh]

<b>SSridhar Ji :</b>

What do you think about India relegating the IWT to the dust bin?

[center]<b><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Dam disputes</span></b>[/center]

Sir: In response to your editorial regarding the water dispute with India (‘Baglihar Dam and our “lower riparian alarmism”’ February 14, Daily Times), I would like to say that Pakistan has reason to fear on three counts. Keeping the example of Bangladesh (and Brahmaputra), and the three eastern rivers of Punjab in mind, one can easily imagine what the Indian perspective is on sharing water with the ‘lower riparians’. One, dam height and lake size will make a big difference in low flow years when water in the river will be less than the normal. Given the shift in climate, disruption in our water supply is a clear and present danger. A high dam will require more time to fill, therefore India can stop or drastically reduce water flowing downstream on this pretext. The increase in reservoir routing time due to low input is unfortunately governed by laws of physics and has nothing to do with politics. We should have anticipated this while signing the Indus Water Treaty, but forethoughtis not the way we do things in Pakistan.

Second, India’s growing energy demand, burgeoning population and its approach to developing water resources are also causes of concern. India may not be entitled to use main rivers but nothing can stop it from altering the watersheds or tributaries. <b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Above all, the treaty is by no means binding upon India, which being the stronger party can relegate it to the dustbin at any time.</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->

President Musharraf has taken unprecedented and bold steps in pushing peace with India, but only to be met with the same old rhetoric of atot ang and terrorism. India at best has given a cold shoulder to our peace overtures and at worst has tried to settle old the scores through Afghanistan. <b>Pakistan certainly needs to develop a coherent strategy on this issue, as with growing power and influence India is less likely to be coerced to do so.
AAMIR ILYAS
Sweden</b>

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->