India Demands Renegotiation of Indus Water Treaty Amidst Cross-Border Terrorism Concerns | News18

[00:00:04]Thanks very [music] much for tuning in to CNN News18. I'm Nabila Jamal. Let's start with our top story on the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. The government of India has now made it clear the Indus Water Treaty will not function in its present form. Sources say that India wants a renegotiation calling the 1960 treaty as outdated for today's climate, population, and the dam technology in itself. The focus now is on the Chenab Basin after putting the treaty in abeyance. Post Pahalgam, New Delhi plans to fast track five major hydropower projects. The Sawalkot 1856 MW, the Pakal Dul 1000 MW megawatts, Ratle 850 MW and Kiru 624 MW as well as Kwar 540 MW.

[00:00:50]Now, India has also halted water flow through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab and is looking to expand sediment flushing at Salal and Baglihar. The message is, of course, straight and simple, no return to the original treaty unless Pakistan ends cross-border terrorism.

[00:01:08]Aman Sharma joining us live for more on that. Aman, India very stern on its stand, Indus Water Treaty will not go back to its original form.

[00:01:17]India is sure until cross-border terrorism is stopped.

[00:01:22]>> Well, clearly Well, clearly, Nabila, see the It's been over a year since India put the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance. And now, uh top government sources are saying that, "Look, number one country condition for the treaty to come back in any form is that Pakistan has to abjure cross-border terror. It has to give India verifiable evidence that it is acting against cross-border terror." Even if that happens at any stage, even if this treaty has to come back, it has to come back in a renegotiated manner because India feels the 1960 treaty which was signed under the Congress regime between Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan at that time was patently unfair to India. India wants to utilize a much bigger quantity of the three western rivers which flow into Pakistan from India and India that's why India is fast tracking five to six big hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River. A couple of them could get it commissioned and working by the end of this year. Others are going to going to get operational in the next two years or so and Pakistan has been objecting to all these projects when the Indus Water Treaty was in place. Of course, India uh put the treaty into abeyance because of the Pahalgham terror attack, but India also strongly believes that this treaty is completely unfair in its it was in its present form and that is why India will not agree. India has not participated in any international proceeding that Pakistan has gone to including the Permanent Court of Arbitration because India clearly believes that this treaty is not in the favor of India at all.

[00:02:45]>> It's interesting, right Aman? Right what we speak about cross-border terror and we assert that this is being perpetuated by Pakistan. You had India that's put Hafiz Saeed on the most wanted list, but Pakistan army flatly refusing his involvement, siding with him. So, if that's the stand that Pakistan would take, then uh you know, this this treaty is never going to go back to its form then.

[00:03:08]>> Well, clearly Nabila, see the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960 survived a lot of things. You know, it survived the Kargil War, it survived two wars between India and Pakistan. It has survived many terrorist attacks by Pakistan including the 26/11 attack. But, I think the Pahalgham terror attack came as a tipping point because the way our civilians were targeted by terrorists in Pahalgham, India decided that look, the Indus Water Treaty in a way, you know, 90% of Pakistan's agricultural needs in Punjab and Sindh are dependent on the Indus water basin. So, in an in an effect, Pakistan civilians are also getting punished if India puts the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance. But, the fact now remains so be it. India is very very clear that it wants to maximize the utilization of waters that are in its territory. There's also a plan to build a diversion tunnel to divert a part of the Chenab River, the surplus water of Chenab River into the Beas River Basin.

[00:03:55]Another project which has really riled up Pakistan in the last few days. So, India is fast-tracking all these projects and it is clearly saying that a return to Indus Water Treaty will only happen once Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism and once this treaty is again renegotiated to be fair and in favorable to the Indian interests.

[00:04:13]>> Right. You know, it's interesting that the hydropower projects Pakistan has vehemently opposed. So, but India at this point we believe is fast-tracking five major hydropower projects to push through, not wanting to go back to the original form of the treaty, wanting a renegotiation. Thank you very much Aman for joining us with those details.