What water wars?
Pakistan, for reasons of its own, has decided to raise water as a major new issue with India. This is an ominous development, perhaps the most ominous ever in the troubled history of the relations between the two countries. If the Kashmir issue were to be miraculously resolved tomorrow, water will be the new core issue. There has been a vicious anti-India campaign in the Pakistani media for some time now, and it is getting worse. India is accused of stealing Pakistans water; reducing river flows; stopping the Chenab; constructing illegal projects on the western rivers; desertifying Pakistan; and so on. Terrorist outfits have picked up this issue and given an ultimatum to India: Let water flow or face war. As for civil society, it is likely to find the slogan of water in danger persuasive. The whole of Pakistan, including intellectuals, liberals, and advocates of good relations with India, are likely to allow themselves to be mobilised against the perceived Indian threat to Pakistans wa
