Wishing Away Water Woes by ALI TAUQEER SHEIKH

 Climate change is the biggest obstacle to development in South Asia. India wants to renegotiate the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and has given Pakistan a 90-day notice to do so. As a result, South Asian nations' growth and safety may be in jeopardy. India has chosen a strategy that is internal rather than collaborative. It will deteriorate its water relations with its neighbours. The climate and ecosystems will be divided by the Paris Agreement's isolated policy when it is implemented. Despite assistance from the international community, neither India nor Pakistan has developed a climate-smart solution. South Asia will not be able to develop a coordinated plan to deal with the challenges posed by climate change. As a result of India's lack of a strategic approach to this issue, many people will become poor. By demanding its revision, India makes IWT dysfunctional. Pakistan asserts that the IWT should not be renegotiated. Pakistan, on the other hand, is now in a position to discuss climate and water issues with India because of India's demands. India's interest is based on two things. First, the IWT's dispute resolution procedures are ineffective. Second, numerous climate-related issues that the treaty of 1960 did not address have emerged. Tragically, India and Pakistan have never brought these issues up in PIC gatherings. Both points could make the treaty stronger. India's request to modify the treaty does not take into account Pakistan's domestic political factors. This is mostly because Indus waters were diverted to Haryana, Rajasthan, Kashmir, and Dehli. It leaves precious little for India's grain. The dire situation is made worse by subsidies for electricity, solarization for pumping groundwater, water-intensive farming, and the promotion of exotic fruits. The BJP's political allies include the water neighbours. The Indian letter relies on the water assets report from August 2021. It specifically mentions Bhutan, Pakistan, and China. In the twelfth report of the committee, India conveyed its interest in Chinese exercises on the Brahmaputra River. Additionally, the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers originate in China, so the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should be used to plan for both countries. The writer of the book "India- The Future is Now" gave extra data in regard to India's environmental preparation and the change to sustainable power. Former BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal did not acknowledge that the transboundary rivers between Nepal and Bangladesh are stewards of civilizations. Due to political considerations, the fact has been overlooked by the parliamentary report. Despite the fact that it may be Pakistan's upper riparian, India is essentially a middle riparian for the transboundary Indus River system. The United Nations Security Council and the Congress party both opposed amending the treaty. Pakistan now has more discretionary options. As a result, the World Bank and other international security agencies have been informed of the risks posed by a dysfunctional water treaty. The P-5 countries and the Middle East should be visited by Pakistan's top leadership because the treaty's protection is crucial. The Indian policymakers have not yet responded to the Indian letter. This is not just a legal or specialized issue. Like all other bilateral issues, this one necessitates complex diplomacy. It is profitable because of the broker's interests. It has furnished the two countries with a potential chance to foster an economic system of new agreements. The IWT has evolved into a global good in the current global context. Pakistan can still seek clarifications at PIC meetings despite declining the request to reopen the treaty. Pakistan can make efforts to generate the necessary momentum for the treaty's revision. The Indian demands will be reduced to technical and procedural levels as a result. In addition, it will set a safe limit on political toxic levels in both countries.