NEW DELHI: Taking the offensive right into the heart of Pakistan, India decided on Monday to suspend the meeting of the Indus Water Commission and explore ways to use its share of water of rivers flowing into Pakistan, besides hinting that it could revive construction of the Tulbul project in Jammu & Kashmir.
"Blood and water cannot flow simultaneously," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a meeting where the decisions designed to make Pakistan pay for the terrorist attack on the Uri Army camp were taken, extending the retaliation against the strike beyond efforts to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.
In fact, sources said, India could even consider walking out of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) if Pakistan does not rein in terrorists, adding that the water-sharing pact is not sacrosanct.
India announced a series of actions on the IWT, seen as "incredibly generous to Pakistan", which would substantially increase its usage of the three rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — which feed Pakistan. Although India is entitled to use 20% of the three rivers, it has not availed of the provision so far, much to the comfort of Pakistan, which is critically dependent on the western rivers of the Indus system. A move by India to use its share will hurt Pakistan, reeling from worsening water scarcity, but without attracting the charge of violation of the treaty.
"Blood and water cannot flow simultaneously," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a meeting where the decisions designed to make Pakistan pay for the terrorist attack on the Uri Army camp were taken, extending the retaliation against the strike beyond efforts to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.
In fact, sources said, India could even consider walking out of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) if Pakistan does not rein in terrorists, adding that the water-sharing pact is not sacrosanct.
India announced a series of actions on the IWT, seen as "incredibly generous to Pakistan", which would substantially increase its usage of the three rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — which feed Pakistan. Although India is entitled to use 20% of the three rivers, it has not availed of the provision so far, much to the comfort of Pakistan, which is critically dependent on the western rivers of the Indus system. A move by India to use its share will hurt Pakistan, reeling from worsening water scarcity, but without attracting the charge of violation of the treaty.
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