India cannot unilaterally suspend Indus Waters Treaty: Mohsin Leghari
Islamabad: Former Punjab Irrigation Minister Mohsin Leghari has stressed on the strong legal and institutional framework of the Indus Waters Treaty and said that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mohsin Leghari, a water policy expert, in a media interview termed the Indus Waters Treaty as one of the most successful water sharing agreements in the world, saying that negotiations were held for about 12 years before the treaty was signed in 1960.
He said it is difficult for any country to unilaterally withdraw from the treaty and any such move will trigger the international arbitration mechanism. He highlighted the need for continuous diplomatic efforts in this regard and said that he himself had consistently raised this issue at various forums.
Rejecting concerns regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Mohsin Leghari said urgent diplomatic efforts are needed to resolve the disputes and the international community should be informed about India’s boycott of the arbitration tribunal, etc.
He said the channels of communication should remain open and Pakistan should engage with the international community. He also stressed that Pakistan should continue its legal action to strengthen the record.
He added that along with diplomatic efforts, Pakistan should strengthen its water management system derived from its own resources, improve its conservation measures and adopt a sustainable water storage strategy to ensure long-term water resilience.
Mohsin Leghari called upon both countries to resume the meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission in collaboration with the World Bank and continue negotiations to modernize the treaty under Article XII of the Indus Waters Treaty and also ensure that the water rights of both countries are protected through compliance with the law and mutual consent. KMS-12A
