The Congress has always supported a bipartisan approach to foreign policy.Tom Vadakkan is an AICC spokesperson$ We need a holistic approach.In the meantime, there has been a lot of talk about stopping the water flow to Pakistan and that water and blood cannot flow together. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair.China is investing in Pakistan. The government, soon after the Uri attack, started praising itself that it has been able to isolate Pakistan internationally. The story of civilisation in the subcontinent began with the lifeline of the Indus namely the Indus Valley Civilisation.While climate change is already worsening these vulnerabilities, these major interventions will make it much worse.The September 26 meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a number of decisions, including expediting projects on these western rivers, setting up an inter-ministerial task force to achieve it, restarting work on Tulbul navigation project and also, according to reports, suspending the meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission indefinitely. Our approach should be holistic as we are dealing with a rogue state. All this may sound like the ranting of a weak heart. This is also a two-way traffic with China breathing down our shoulder in the east. We do not have the infrastructure to either store or divert so much water.So please tell us what isolation has this government been able to achieve for Pakistan.
There has been no response from the government. There should be no hindrance on this from any political party.The Indus has various tributaries, one even emanating from China. But that would be of limited quantity. Iran is into talks with Pakistan regarding collaboration over its ports. We have always been ready to support this government in all matters relating to the security of our nation. We have outlined our concerns, now it is for the government of the day to decide its response — be it Indus waters or isolation or anything else which it deems fit. We have demanded that the government should immediately withdraw the most favoured nation status from Pakistan. We have already seen a trailer of the possible consequences in the J&K flood disaster of September 2014. The question is what transpired between them What was the pressing need for Mr Modi to break his journey and land in Islamabad There is a shroud of secrecy which this government is practising over its policy with Pakistan.However, one caveat that must be kept in mind, any step taken shouldn’t be in isolation. We want an immediate Parliament session to discuss the security situation and term Pakistan as a terror state. Immediately, we can put up pumps to lift water from these rivers for use within Jammu & Kashmir and may be we could divert some to the nearest eastern river. The NSAs of both countries have met several times, overtly and covertly. Such infrastructure needs a lot of studies, planning and years of work.Himanshu Thakkar is coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People$It is not an effective or a just way*** Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that blood and water cannot flow together, but does it also mean that blood and business is thicker than water. Himanshu Thakkar.
