I'm John Batchel with my colleagues, Hussain Okhany, and Bill Rajio.

Bill, you have a question or a comment from the ambassador about what is to be done.

Well, yeah, before the Indians have implemented a series of import bans,

but most specifically the Indus Waters Treaty has been suspended.

How significant is that to Pakistan? And could it cause this conflict to spiral out of control?

We must remember that the Indus Waters Treaty is one of the most successful water sharing

agreements between two countries anywhere in the world.

It was negotiated with great difficulty and the agreement was signed in 1960.

There are six rivers that flow from Kashmir down into Punjab, which is divided between India and Pakistan.

And the agreement said India has first right on the eastern three rivers and Pakistan

has the first right on the western three rivers.

It has worked all right so far.

India builds hydroelectric plants, etc.

and barrages on the three rivers, Pakistan, the three other rivers are

allowed to flow into Pakistan unimpeded.

Now, it seems that India, having scrapped the treaty, or not scrapped, but held it in abeyance,

is seeking the right to be able to build dams and other restrictive structures on the three rivers that were given to Pakistan.

And that is going to create Pakistan, some problems for Pakistan.

The flow of water will definitely be impeded.

And there will be moments when India could actually let a lot of water come into Pakistan

through barrages that it is intending to build and some that it already has, which will create

floods in Pakistan. So yes, it is a life and death issue for Pakistan, and Pakistan has repeatedly

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