A heated exchange of words occurred on social media recently between Bilawal Bhutto, the head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Fawad Chaudhry, an erstwhile leader from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. This spat was incited by a diplomatic development in connection with the Indus Waters Treaty and was amplified when Bilawal made a statement that India’s manoeuvre could be seen as an ‘assault on Sindhu.’
A Supplemental Award was issued by The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration upholding Pakistan’s stance that India’s unilateral decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty was not internationally recognized. Pakistan, the day prior, formally accepted this award. Following this occurrence, Bilawal Bhutto emphasized his disapproval of India’s action, deeming it unacceptable.
“Sindhu pay hamla na manzoor. India’s unilateral decision regarding the Indus Water Treaty have no bearing in international law,” is what Bilawal Bhutto wrote, the former foreign minister who seemed to contextualize the incident through history and civilization.
However, this statement was taken out of context by Chaudhry, who misinterpreted ‘Sindhu’ as a reference to the Sindh province. He rebuked Bilawal for morphing a topic of national importance into a provincial one. Chaudhry argued that the event was an ‘attack’ on all of Pakistan, not just the Sindh province.
In his refute to Bilawal, Chaudhry stressed that this was an assault on Pakistan as a whole, not just Sindh. He implied that Bilawal’s late mother, Benazir Bhutto, wouldn’t have made the same statement, saying, “This [is] an attack on Pakistan, not on Sindh — unless you have also joined Sindhu Daish under GM Syed family… BB would never have made such a statement.”
In response to the PTI leader’s accusation, Bilawal expressed that the word Indus is the Latinised name of Sindhu. He elaborated that “Indus” was introduced into the English language through the Greek term “Indos”, which was subsequently derived from the Persian pronunciation of Sindhu.
Chaudhry, however, responded with a personal jab, stating, “Obviously you have no knowledge of politics on Sindhu. That’s the problem when you become chairman on a fake will and not through political process.”
This fiery exchange transpired parallel to the statement released by the federal authority, which reiterated its commitment to resolving the contentious issue within the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty. The government underscored the importance of a fresh round of diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further reinforced the resolve to resolve the issue with dialogue. He extended an amicable hand to New Delhi, stating that Pakistan was prepared for a meaningful conversation on all pending issues, such as Jammu & Kashmir’s status, water allocation, trade relations, and terrorism.
In the wake of a militant attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in April, that resulted in the death of 26 people, interaction under the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan had been suspended by India. Islamabad has been blamed by India for orchestrating the fatal attack – a claim refuted by Pakistan.
In response to these unfounded allegations, India launched an unprecedented offensive against Pakistan. This led to the most intense cross-border skirmishes between the neighboring nations in recent memory. The intense combat continued till a truce was negotiated and implemented with the mediation of the US.
At the heart of this disagreement between the nuclear-powered neighbors is the usage of water from rivers that pour into Pakistan’s Indus River basin from India’s territory. The Indus Waters Treaty, mediated by the World Bank and signed in September 1960, governs this usage.
The treaty has proved to be durable, providing a clear framework for dispute resolution and making no provision for a unilateral suspension or termination. Despite the intense conflict and increased tension over recent years, the treaty has remained a beacon of cooperation between the two nations.
The saga of the Indus Waters Treaty and the recent diplomatic dispute underscore the intricate interplay of geopolitics, law, and shared natural resources. This episode also reveals the challenges and opportunities inherent in managing these resources for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The online face-off between Bilawal Bhutto and Fawad Chaudhry must thus be seen in the light of a profound historical, political and hydrological controversy. Embedded within their fiery exchanges is a nuanced national dialogue about water rights, regional politics, international law, and the promotion of peaceful co-existence.
As the dust settles, the legacy of this debate will hopefully impact future policy and decision-making, towards an inclusive and peaceful resolution of water disputes. It underscores the importance of clear communication, solid international law and diplomatic finesse in diffusing tensions and aligning objectives between historically contentious nations.
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