Pak must keep option of force over water row with India: JuD

A meeting called by the 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 JamaatudDawah said by squeezing out crucial water supply to its agrarian regions 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 Peoples Party PMLN JamaateIslami and cricketerturnedpolitician Imran Khans TehrikeInsaaf The JuD demanded that Kashmiri mujahideen should be given a free hand if the Pakistan government fails to stop India from building dams on the rivers The head of JuDs political affairs wing Abdur Rehman Makki and the groups Pakistan Water Movement convener Hafiz Safullah Mansoor presided over the meet However JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed accused by India of masterminding the Mumbai attacks did not attend the gathering yesterday By building dams like Baglihar and Kishanganga on Pakistani rivers and water tunnels to divert the flow of water India plans to economically destroy Pakistan like Somalia and Ethiopia The Pakistan governments 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 Indias 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 Pakistans provinces fight with each other over water and said 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 governments 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