Water Grabber India & Nuclear War

Part- I

By Zaheerul Hassan

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation mentioned in his report that rural poverty and food insecurity has been intensified and is showing downward trend all over the world. Developing countries within the Asia-Pacific region represent more than half of the world population today (a total of 3.7 billion out of 6.3 billion people in 2000), which continued to grow at 1.4% per year (1990-2000) and slowing down to 0.7% per year in 2020-2025.  The population in urban areas will increase from 37% to 51% during the same period. The report further reveals that majority of the worlds poor live in this region, about 829 million out of a world total of 1.2 billion, living on an average of just one dollar a day.

An alarming aspect of under discussion issue is that despite having maximum manpower, natural resources and all weather pieces of land, why Asian countries failed to bring Green Revolution. The answer is unequal distribution of manpower and ambitious desire of grabbing natural resources by the power greedy country India. New Delhi never realized that her wishful thinking of attaining supremacy and capturing natural resources is pushing the region into war. She has forgotten that hunger is the only factor which changes the human characteristics. It gave birth to the world terrorism too. Here, in Asia the ratio of poor people remained high as high Himalayan Mountain. Most of the governments in south Asian region cannot maintain even daily necessities of their nations. The countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal   botched to promote their agricultural sector because of presence of a water grabber country in their neighbourhood.

India has given a new turn to the philosophy of war while using water as an instrument of war. She has the intentions of converting her neighbourhood’s land into ruins and deserts through inundation and trickling of water.  In this regard her actions speak that she is emerging as “Global Water Terrorist Country”. New Delhi has planned number of barrages and dames while violating international water pacts. Now, it’s the talk of the region that future war would be on water issue because none of the country will like to become barren as result of Water terrorism.  Therefore, it is evident from the prevailing environment that if world community failed to control water grabber then insecurity of food would be the core issue of future Asia and would prove fatal for the world peace.

 It is further emphasized that Agriculture sector is expected to continue to play the central role in achieving sustainable food security and poverty alleviation through increasing the food production, improving productivity and quality, expanding non-farm employment and enhancing trade and overall capital formation. But, the increase in capital is only possible if water resources shall be available to the countries. But its reality that development of any country revolves around Water since it’s equally good for agriculture and industrial sectors apart for the daily routine maintenance. Unavailability or shortage of water might lead into environmental degradation, erosion of top soils, and depletion of soil fertility, pollution, starvation and low production of food.

The third word countries which are already suffering with depleted economies have to do something for their survival. The numbers of water issues of South Asian countries though have been taken up at various international fora but are still unresolved or pending due to disinclination attitude of India towards the execution of already concluded International Pacts. Indus Basin Water Treaty between India and Pakistan 1960, Indo-Bangladesh water dispute over the Farakka Barrage (The Ganges Water Treaty) and the Indo-Nepal dispute over the Mahakali River are the glaring examples of Indian refusal of abiding by the international agreements. The continuous Indian denial is endangering regional peace too. It is notable here that India always used water as blackmailing tool against Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The Indian rulers exploit this natural resource through blocking the flow of rivers which originate from the Indian controlled territories and claiming their rights of using Nepalese Origin Rivers too.

It is also notable here that major water issue between two nuclear powers (India and Pakistan) is directly linked with the territorial dispute too. Pakistan and India have fought four wars over Kashmir. The sources of three major rivers are located in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). India has started construction of dams and barrages over these rivers with the aim of destroying agriculture sector of Pakistan. According to the sources, India has also suggested Afghan government to construct dam over Kabul River which is a main water contributor to Indus River. She has also offered technical assistance to Afghanistan. Therefore it’s a proven fact now that India will never be our trustworthy friend because of her mean nature. Her only aim is to create instability and destruction of Pakistan.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal have tried to resolve their water issues with India while using various world and regional stages. These countries also used SAARC platform to settle their long outstanding issues over water but some how on one or other pretext New Delhi showed her unwillingness in resolving the issue. India straightaway refused to come on SAARC forum while saying that water clashes will be solved with Bangladesh and Nepal through tri-partite dialogues.  In fact India is not interested to decide the issues at all and will keep on avoiding the talks on such delicate matters. Same situation is prevailing between Pakistan and India over water problem.

The reluctance of India in resolving of basic issues has further deteriorated the regional security. The political and military leaderships of India have failed to comprehend and read the delicacy of the current adverse regional situation. The ruling party of India is trying to corner the lonely Islamic nuclear power without realizing that Pakistan can not afford anymore conventional war with her. She must know that Pakistani nuclear programme is though very safe but off course in strong hands too. According to A Q khan Pakistan Nuclear Programme is of latest version and has edge over Indian nuclear programme too.

Pakistan has sufficient nuclear arsenals to meet any potent threat to her integrity.  Careful analysis of contemporary political and security environment reveals that future nuclear war would be on water issue. India must know that Pakistan can go for nuclear strike first, since it’s the matter of her survival on world map. To avoid this nuclear war, international community has to establish, deliberate and redress the major water issues of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. I would like to mention here that details and formula of resolving this important issue and avoiding future nuclear war would be discussed in Part - II of the article.

                                                                          (To be continued)