Lahore: A meeting called by the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), and attended by representatives of major political parties has demanded that the government should either stop India from building dams on rivers flowing into Pakistan or give a "free hand" to 'Kashmiri mujahideen' to deal with the issue.
Attacking the government for maintaining a silence over the water issue, JuD said that by squeezing out crucial water supply to its agrarian region and building dams like Baglihar and Kishanganga on Pakistani rivers, India plans to economically destroy Pakistan like Somalia and Ethiopia.
A joint declaration issued by the JuD after the meeting asked the Pakistan government to keep "open the option of using force" to protect water resources if India does not stop work on projects on rivers flowing into the country. The meeting, dubbed an "All Parties Conference," was attended by representatives of major political parties like the ruling Pakistan People's Party, PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaaf.
The head of JuD's political affairs wing, Abdur Rehman Makki, and the group's "Pakistan Water Movement" convener Hafiz Safullah Mansoor presided over the meet. However, JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, accused by India of masterminding the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, did not attend the gathering on Sunday.
"The Pakistan government's incriminating silence over Indian water aggression is highly regrettable," said a statement issued by the JuD. "All government ministers and officials who speak Indian language on this vital national issue must apologise to the nation and stop this behaviour of unilateral friendship with India at the cost of national interest," it added. The "silence" over India's alleged "water aggression" by world bodies like UN and World Bank is a "big question mark on their neutrality and fairness," the JuD claimed.
India, it further claimed, is conspiring to make Pakistan's provinces "fight with each other over water" and said that the government should give "top priority to Kashmir and water issues" in its dialogue with India.
"If India is not willing to focus on these vital issues, there is no gain in continuing such dialogue," the JuD contended that the Pakistan government's role in resolving differences with India over sharing of river waters was "very disappointing". It said, "Mere statements or few meetings (of the) Indus Waters Commission will not solve this problem. Concrete steps must be taken urgently".
Attacking the government for maintaining a silence over the water issue, JuD said that by squeezing out crucial water supply to its agrarian region and building dams like Baglihar and Kishanganga on Pakistani rivers, India plans to economically destroy Pakistan like Somalia and Ethiopia.
A joint declaration issued by the JuD after the meeting asked the Pakistan government to keep "open the option of using force" to protect water resources if India does not stop work on projects on rivers flowing into the country. The meeting, dubbed an "All Parties Conference," was attended by representatives of major political parties like the ruling Pakistan People's Party, PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Tehrik-e-Insaaf.
"The Pakistan government's incriminating silence over Indian water aggression is highly regrettable," said a statement issued by the JuD. "All government ministers and officials who speak Indian language on this vital national issue must apologise to the nation and stop this behaviour of unilateral friendship with India at the cost of national interest," it added. The "silence" over India's alleged "water aggression" by world bodies like UN and World Bank is a "big question mark on their neutrality and fairness," the JuD claimed.
Advertisement
"If India is not willing to focus on these vital issues, there is no gain in continuing such dialogue," the JuD contended that the Pakistan government's role in resolving differences with India over sharing of river waters was "very disappointing". It said, "Mere statements or few meetings (of the) Indus Waters Commission will not solve this problem. Concrete steps must be taken urgently".
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Politically Motivated, Unfounded": India Slams Pak At UN Over J&K Remark India's "Unwarranted References" Reply To China-Pak Joint Statement On J&K Will Supply Cauvery Water To Bengaluru "By Hook Or By Crook": DK Shivakumar Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "I Only Hope...": Actor Jayasurya Breaks Silence On Sex Harassment Charges Manipur Chief Minister Slams Tejashwi Yadav Over "Racist" Jab At Himanta Sarma "I Only Hope...": Actor Jayasurya Breaks Silence On Sex Harassment Charges Over 700 Protestors Sent To Security Jails In Venezuela After Elections TS ICET Counselling 2024 Registration Process Begins Today Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.