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The rhetoric has once again intensified in the diplomatic circles regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan. Recently, a Pakistani minister has termed as ‘historic’ the statement of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in which he had demanded India to step back on the Indus Water Treaty. As soon as this claim of the Pakistani minister came to light, international diplomatic experts and social media users started criticizing Pakistan. The way the leaders of Pakistan, who are facing economic crisis, are making such baseless statements to divert the attention of the domestic public, they are being trolled fiercely online. Experts believe that India is no longer going to come under any pressure on water management and strategic matters, and such statements by Pakistan only highlight its political failure.
Indus Water Treaty and India’s tough stand: Now work will not work on old terms
The Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 has been counted among the most successful water-sharing treaties in the world, but in view of the changing geopolitical situation with time and the trend of cross-border terrorism, India has felt a strong need to amend it. India clearly believes that ‘blood and water cannot flow together’. Until Pakistan completely stops sponsoring terrorism against India from its soil, it is India’s sovereign right to review the terms of bilateral treaties. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, New Delhi has made it clear that there is no question of compromising on national security and the country’s water interests. This hesitation of the Pakistani rulers is proof that they are deeply unsettled by the tough diplomatic and legal steps being taken by India.
Pakistani minister’s childish claim and Shahbaz Sharif’s speech
A Pakistani minister has described Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the UN and international forums as a great achievement and claimed that it will force India to back down on the Indus Water Treaty. However, experts in diplomatic affairs say that this statement is far from reality and is only a poor attempt to gain domestic political mileage. The people of Pakistan are suffering from inflation, hunger, unemployment and electricity crisis, in such a situation the government there is adopting the old tactic of raising anti-India slogans to divert the attention of the people. But this time on social media, Pakistani people and global analysts have rubbished Shehbaz Sharif’s speech and the claims of his ministers. People say that the countries whose economies are running at the mercy and loans of international organizations cannot achieve anything by giving bad news to India.
Impact on regional water security and India’s strategic priorities
River water management and water diplomacy have become the most important part of the national security of any country in today’s era. India is continuously creating infrastructure towards maximum and judicious use of the waters of the Indus Basin rivers to meet its growing population, agricultural needs and energy requirements. India’s work on hydro projects like Kishanganga and Ratle is proof that New Delhi knows how to protect its interests within the ambit of international treaties. No matter how many historic speeches Pakistan’s ministers may claim to give, the ground truth is that India has now emerged as a strong nation which does not compromise on its terms and national sovereignty. Pakistan’s frustration on the water sharing front only reflects its diplomatic defeat.
Trolling on social media and the future direction of diplomacy
There has been a flood of memes and sharp reactions on social media platforms after Pakistan ministers described Shehbaz Sharif’s speech as historic. Users around the world are laughing at the hypocrisy of Pakistan that a country which is not able to provide even basic facilities to its people, is pretending to warn an emerging global economic and military superpower like India. Diplomatic experts believe that in the coming days, more stringent steps can be taken by India on the process of amendment and review of the Indus Water Treaty. It would be better for Pakistan to leave aside empty rhetoric and focus on solving its internal crises, because India is not going to bow down to any pressure in terms of its national security and water interests.