It is unfortunate that the wishes and genuine interests of the multiple societies living across the Line of Control over the Indus waters cannot be addressed sufficiently
D Suba Chandran
During the last few months, there have been few reports in Pakistani media, hinting Jamaat Ali Shah, former Indus Water Commissioner from Pakistan, had fled the country to avoid being prosecuted for failing to protect Pakistan’s interest. His guilt: he failed to stop India from building a dam across the river Indus in Nimoo Bazgo, near Leh in Ladakh.
Few news reports and comments received to those reports have already made up their mind in providing their verdict–that Jamaat Ali Shah was guilty not protecting Pakistan’s interests and India’s project along the Indus River is in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty signed between the two countries. According to a news report, “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against Syed Jamaat Ali Shah, Pakistan’s former Indus water commissioner, for allegedly acting as an agent of India by allowing India to build the Nimoo Bazgo Dam.”
Unfortunately, when it comes to water issues, the entire South Asian societies, base their arguments on emotions, rather than facts. Even if there are facts to support their case, they do not want to look at the truth behind the facts.
Consider the objectives of constructing the Nimoo Bazgo dam, before blaming Jamaat Ali Shah and India for acting against the interest of Pakistan. Not many in Pakistan (for that matter, many inside even India) realise Ladakh is mountain locked territory, opened to the rest of the world only for six months, that too only through a single pass – the mighty Zoji La. Of course, there is another route via Manali, but it is opened for a shorter period than Srinagar-Leh road, cutting across Kargil. With Ladakh being a cold desert, it is important for the region to get electricity generated from within to support its economy.
With agriculture declining and tourism becoming the main revenue earning sector for Ladakh, it is important for this region to play on its strength– tourism, which also is seasonal. Though there is winter tourism in Ladakh, the number is negligible. To sustain tourism, it is important for Ladakh (or for that any other parts in J&K, which thrives on tourism economy) to have adequate electricity to attract the inflow of tourists. Imagine in a freezing cold, having electricity only for two hours a day. While for many in the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh – this is a daily routine, for a tourist it may not. Hence, it is imperative to develop the power sector in Ladakh, to sustain the thriving tourism industry to support the local economy.
While Pakistan may not understand the domestic need to develop power from the available resources, what is worse, is the fear that India is building the dam across the Indus River to divert water. Anyone who has visited Nimoo Bazgo would understand what the dam is capable of. Is the dam capable of storing the waters of the Indus to an extent, that it would cripple the economy of downstream? Or is India planning to divert the waters of the Indus from the dam to elsewhere?
Technically the dam in Nimoo Bazgo is incapable of becoming a huge storage dam or to divert the waters to another region. This project cannot be anything but run of the river project, generating electricity, which is permissible under the Indus Waters Treaty.
However, the debate in Pakistan is unlikely to be on the nature of this project and the reasons behind constructing the same. Invariably, the majority within Pakistan believe that India’s primary objective of any project on the Indus River will have to be essentially anti-Pakistan. Infact, not many in Pakistan understand, that the local societies within J&K across the LoC are extremely upset and even angry on for not being able to make use of the water resources, which runs across their land. Pakistan also does not understand, a section within J&K would like India to abrogate the Indus Waters Treaty, as they consider it essentially anti-Kashmiri. It is unfortunate, that the wishes and genuine interests of the multiple societies living across the Line of Control over the Indus waters cannot be addressed sufficiently.
Why cannot India explain the situation to Pakistan on projects like Nimoo Bazgo and Kishenganga in advance? The Indus Water Commissioner in India and the government believe that Pakistan is not seriously interested in developing the Indus Water resources jointly, and only looking forward to an opportunity to delay any and every project across the river irrespective of signing a treaty. This apprehension over Pakistan’s delaying tactics, influence India’s decision making in going ahead with the project without adequate prior consultation.
Now, getting back to the original question – of accusing Jamaat Ali Shah of conspiring with the India is likely set a negative trend, which would have a huge implication for any future dialogue on water sharing between India and Pakistan. Despite few clarifications in the Parliament of Pakistan on the nature of Indian projects over the Indus River, a section seems to have already made up its mind, India is attempting to use the waters as a weapon.
What does the Jamaat episode signify? What lessons need to be learnt? First and foremost, any issue over the sharing of waters across the Indus River is going to be an emotional issue, irrespective of the facts. Infact, facts and truth will become the first casualty in the growing water hysteria on the Indus River. Second, it is important to reach out to the multiple societies sharing the Indus River, and initiate an Indus water dialogue, comprising of Indians, Pakistanis and Kashmiris. Infact it should include the Sindhis, Punjabis and Kashmiris from both sides of the border, Balochis and Pashtuns.
Let us remember, these societies have lived together and shared the same river for centuries. An Indus Water dialogue, at the societal level, cutting across the multiple communities will bring them together. Let the Indus become one big natural bridge, once again, from Demchok to Karachi.
Writer is Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) & Visiting Professor, Pakistan Studies Programme, Jamia Millia Islamia and can be mailed at subachandran@gmail.com