I AM a Pakistani-American living in the United States. While I am relieved at the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, I think Pakistan should have made India take back the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a precondition for the ceasefire.
Pakistan should now make it clear to the Indians that any attempt to take morewater from the Chenab and Jhelum rivers than what the Indus Waters Treaty allows will be considered a red line by Pakistan. It is, indeed, a crime, and repeated attempts and talk of cutting off the water flow to Pakistan is an act of war. Pakistan cannot allow its slow death over the next couple of decades by allowing India to build dams on the aforementioned rivers.
The next war between Pakistan and India might well be over water rights, and Pakistan should be prepared for that now. I do not take the statement lightly, but I must stress that Pakistan`s survival depends on this water flow.
Water is not India`s property; it is a natural resource that India must be made to learn to share with its neighbours.
