Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 24: Former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader Prof Saifuddin Soz today said that the hawks in India and Pakistan have raised the pitch of their war-mongering rhetoric, which doesn’t represent opinion of the masses in both countries, inspite of the recent provocation.
In a press statement here today, Prof Soz said, ” Some of the hawks in our country have particularly, come to the Indus Water Treaty and desire that India should revisit this treaty to teach a lesson to Pakistan. It is misplaced hawkish desire and it will ultimately, have no takers within the sub-continent or elsewhere in the world,” Soz said.
” It is a time-tested water distribution treaty brokered by the World Bank and signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960.
Unfortunately, for the hawks in the sub-continent, India and Pakistan have not engaged in water wars since the ratification of the treaty.
The hawks must also know that disagreement and disputes from both the sides have been there, but, the same have always been settled via legal procedures, provided for within the frame work of the Treaty.
The Permanent Indus Water Commission has survived three wars and the same provides an ongoing mechanism for consultation and conflict resolution, through inspections, exchange of data and visits.
” I also believe that on such matters, no civil servant, whatever his or her position, should be allowed to make any provocative and controversial statement,” Soz maintained.
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