The ongoing 116th Meeting of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) between India and Pakistan in New Delhi has been the talk of the town lately. This meeting commenced on the National Day of Pakistan, which marks the Lahore Resolution of 23rd March, 1940.
The Significance of The Latest Meeting
The latest meeting comes after a hiatus of more than two and a half years. This period was marked by the infamous Pulwama attack on 14th February, 2019 and the consequential Balakot air strike on 26th February, 2019. During this time, special provisions under Article 370 that granted unique status to J&K were also abolished.
This meeting is expected to discuss Pakistan’s objections over two of India’s projects, i.e., Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai. Other routine matters such as establishing flood data exchange mechanisms are also anticipated to be addressed.
Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai Projects
India is constructing the Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project with a capacity of 1,000 MW on river Marusudar, a tributary of Chenab, located in Kishtwar district of J&K. The Lower Kalnai project is being developed on the Chenab. These initiatives by India have led to disagreements which will be deliberated upon in the meeting.
The Restoration of Peace
The 116th PIC meeting is seen as a positive move after both countries concurred last month to strictly observe all agreements, understandings and ceasefire along the Line of Control and other sectors. This indicates a possible restoration of peace between the neighbouring countries.
Role and Function of The Permanent Indus Commission
The PIC serves as a bilateral commission comprising officials from both India and Pakistan. The commission’s main role is to enforce and manage the objectives of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960. According to the treaty, the PIC must meet at least once a year alternately in India and Pakistan.
The commission’s responsibilities encompass studying and reporting to both governments about any issues related to water resources development, solving disputes over water sharing, arranging technical visits to project sites and critical river head works, conducting an inspection tour of the rivers every five years to ascertain facts, and taking essential steps for the treaty’s implementation.
The Indus Water Treaty, 1960
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan in 1960. It was brokered by the World Bank and administers how the waters of the Indus and its tributaries flowing in both the countries will be utilised. As per the treaty, India has rights over the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, while the western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan.
Importantly, the IWT grants India the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers, subject to specific design and operational criteria. However, it also provides Pakistan the right to raise concerns about the design of these Indian hydroelectric projects.
Disputes Over Water Resources
There have been disagreements and differences between India and Pakistan over dams. For instance, in 2010, Pakistan instituted international arbitration proceedings over India’s 330-megawatt hydropower project on a small Indus tributary, the Kishenganga.
The Exclusion of China and The Impact of Climate Change
Although the Indus originates from Tibet, China has been excluded from the Treaty. If China decides to alter or halt the flow of the river, it could potentially affect both India and Pakistan. Furthermore, climate change and subsequent melting of ice in the Tibetan plateau could disrupt the river’s future flow.
The Lahore Resolution and Its Impact
The Lahore Resolution was passed during a historic session of the All-India Muslim League at Lahore in March 1940. This resolution demanded independent states for areas of the Indian subcontinent where Muslims were in a majority. The adoption of this resolution led to the eventual partition of the Indian subcontinent and the creation of Pakistan as an independent sovereign state within eight years.
