FS Misri meets UAE minister to review 'growing' bilateral partnership

Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri met UAE MoS for International Cooperation, HE Reem Al Hashimy today for the Mid-Year Review of the growing and expanding 🇮🇳🇦🇪 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
They took stock of the bilateral ties and discussed future partnerships. pic.twitter.com/rcAFSyvFLV

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First Post

14 hours ago

• First Post

Crops hit, dam water at dead levels: How Pakistan is suffering after Indus Waters Treaty suspension

Pakistan is parched. India's move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty has caused a crisis in the neighbouring country — water flow from the Indus River System has dropped almost 20 per cent. This has affected the kharif crop season, which will negatively impact the beleaguered nation's economy read more Camels sit on the dry riverbed of the Indus River, with the Kotri Barrage in the background, in Jamshoro, Pakistan. File image/Reuters Pakistan is drying up, quite literally. Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people lost their lives, India had taken the harsh but just step of placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri declaring that the agreement would remain 'in abeyance' until Pakistan took 'credible and irrevocable' steps to cease its support for cross-border terrorism. At the time, many questioned if the move would hurt Pakistan. And the effects of India's decision is now being seen and felt in the neighbouring country — as river waters have reached 'dead' levels, imperilling Pakistan's kharif season. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan's waters at dead levels Official data reveals that the total water released from the Indus River System to Pakistan is almost 20 per cent down compared to same date last year. In the Sindh region, the water flow stood at 1,33,000, cusecs compared to 1,70,000 cusecs last year. Similarly, in Pakistan's Punjab region, the water flow stood at 1,10,500 cusecs, down 20 per cent from 1,30,800 cusecs on June 20 last year. Even in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, the water flow is down to 2,600 cusecs on June 20 from 2,900 cusecs on the same day last year. And this has been an ongoing situation since India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. For instance, on June 16, the 'Daily Water Situation' report released by the Pakistan government's Indus River System Authority (IRSA) showed the total water released from the Indus River System to Pakistan's Sindh province was 1.33 lakh cusecs against 1.6 lakh on the same day last year — a drop of 16.87 per cent. Furthermore, the water levels at the two major reservoirs in Pakistan — Tarbela on the Indus and Mangla on the Jhelum — have dropped to dead storage. Fishermen clear a fishing net in the water on the partially dried up riverbed of the Indus River in Hyderabad, Pakistan. The total water released from the Indus River System to Pakistan is almost 20 per cent down compared to same date last year. File image/Reuters Impact on Pakistan But what does it exactly mean for Pakistan's rivers to reach dead levels and how will it hurt Pakistan? Dead storage levels refers to the water volume stored below the lowest outlet level, essentially unusable for typical water supply purposes. This limits its use for irrigation or drinking. Pakistan's water in reservoirs reaching dead levels will have a significant impact on the country's kharif (summer crops) sowing season. In fact, an India Today report states that kharif farming has already witnessed a dip of more than 20 per cent owing to receiving 1.14 lakh cusecs of water as opposed to 1.43 lakh cusecs a day last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The production of kharif crops, namely cotton and maize, has declined by over 30 per cent and 15 per cent in Pakistan, respectively. The production of wheat has also dropped by around nine per cent owing to the water shortage in the country. This, in turn, will hurt an already beleaguered Pakistani economy that is heavily reliant on agriculture. Pakistan's agricultural sector contributes 23 per cent to the country's national income and with production of kharif crops dropping, it will hurt Pakistan's bottomline. Experts note that the situation might improve once the monsoon rains arrive but until then Pakistan will be quenched for thirst. Parched Pakistan writes to India And staring at a water crisis has led Pakistan to write not one but four letters to India, asking it to reinstate the Indus Waters Treaty that was first signed in 1960. Multiple news reports citing sources have said that the secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources, Syed Ali Murtaza, has written four letters to India urging it to reconsider its decision to stop the Indus Waters Treaty. The sources state that India's Jal Shakti Ministry has sent all the four letters from Pakistan to the Ministry of External Affairs. And such dire are the circumstances that Pakistan also requested the World Bank , which brokered the deal, to intervene in the matter. However, the World Bank refused to step into the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Supporters of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), carry flags and banners, during a protest against the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India, in Karachi, Pakistan. File image/Reuters Significance of Indus Waters Treaty and India's pause on it Pakistan's water woes arose when India announced that it was putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Signed in September 1960, the agreement governed the allocation of water from the Indus River system between the two countries. Under the arrangement, India was granted rights to the Eastern Rivers: the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, while Pakistan received the Western Rivers: the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. Approximately 70 per cent of the water in the system was allotted to Pakistan. Under the IWT, India was obligated to allow the flow of Western Rivers to Pakistan, with limited rights for agriculture, transport, and hydroelectric projects that do not obstruct river flow. New Delhi's decision to pause the treaty caused much outrage in Pakistan with Islamabad deeming the action to be 'an act of war', adding that it was prepared to respond, 'with full force across the complete spectrum of national power'. And on June 17, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was quoted as telling German broadcaster DW Urdu that any attempt by India to block Pakistan's water supply would be seen as an existential threat, leaving Pakistan with no option but war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following India's decision to pause the treaty, New Delhi is also conducting a feasibility study for constructing a 113 km-long canal for redirecting surplus flow from the three western rivers of the Indus water system to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. With inputs from agencies

Time of India

5 days ago

• Time of India

Russia Day observed with silence, solidarity & reflection

Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri In solidarity with the victims of the Air India plane crash on Thursday, the Embassy of Russia scaled down its Russia Day celebrations. While Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended without making a public appearance and the Stilyagi band's set was cancelled, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov and the assembled guests expressed their condolences to the families of the victims. Siniša Pavić, Ambassador of Serbia Askar Beshimov, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan WE SHARE THIS GRIEF WITH ALL OF YOU: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR A minute of silence was observed at the event for the victims of the plane crash, which claimed over 240 lives. The Russian Ambassador began his speech by saying, 'I would like to start by expressing our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies. President Putin has also sent a message of condolence. We share this grief with the Indian government and with all of you in this tragedy. I have just seen off Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, our chief guest, who excused himself from making a public appearance, given the circumstances. I also decided to cancel the colourful performance of the band that was scheduled to play tonight, and I apologise for that – to you and to the artistes.' The Ambassador then spoke about the significance of Russia Day and the importance of India-Russia relations. 'This relationship has evolved through trust, stability, shared interests, and respect for each other's civilisations,' he added.

The Wire

6 days ago

• The Wire

Government has ‘No Information' About Social Media Trolls Who Blamed Foreign Secretary for Ceasefire

Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Government Government has 'No Information' About Social Media Trolls Who Blamed Foreign Secretary for Ceasefire The Wire Staff 5 minutes ago Both the MEA and the MEITY said they have 'no information' about the handles that viciously trolled Misri and his family. In this image posted by @IndianEmbTokyo on X on May 22, 2025, foreign secretary Vikram Misri speaks during the inaugural session of Raisina Tokyo. Photo via PTI. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now New Delhi: The Union government has no information about the social media handles who had unleashed vicious troll attacks on foreign secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter during last month's military conflict with Pakistan, right to information (RTI) queries have revealed. The Wire had reported that Misri locked his X account on May 11 after he was viciously trolled on social media following the ceasefire announced between India and Pakistan. No one from the Union government, including external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, has yet condemned the trolling or come out in his support. Misri as foreign secretary helmed the Ministry of External Affairs's briefings during the four-day military conflict with Pakistan following the launch of Operation Sindoor. The move to lock his account came after right-wing X accounts called him a 'traitor' and blamed him for the ceasefire, dug out old posts that he had shared of his family, and targeted his daughter for studying abroad and 'providing legal aid to Rohingya refugees from Myanmar'. Venkatesh Nayak, director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, filed separate RTI queries with the Ministry of External Affairs as well as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology seeking a list of social media accounts that have been identified by the competent agency in each of the ministries that are known to have initiated and participated in the trolling and online abuse of Misri and his family. Both ministries reverted with identical replies saying that there is no such information available on the topic. In his appeal filed to the Ministry of External Affairs following its response saying it had no information, Nayak wrote that the government has acted to 'take down other kinds of offensive content from social media and other digital media platforms, in the past'. 'Other public authorities under this Government have quickly acted to invoke the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the applicable Information Technology Rules, to get CERT-IN to take down other kinds of offensive content from social media and other digital media platforms, in the past. It is unbelievable that this Ministry has not acted in a similar manner with regard to the recent trolling of the Foreign Secretary,' he wrote in his appeal. 'The CPIO [central public information officer]'s obtuse and evasive reply amounts to admitting that this Government did nothing to take action against the social media accounts and their offensive operators who attacked the Foreign Secretary with extreme prejudice and using very offensive language. 'This does not inspire any degree of confidence in the minds of us, the citizenry, about this Government's ability to protect its senior functionaries from attacks on social media platforms. This also does not align with this Government's policy of not keeping quiet when violence is committed against Indian citizens and their property by external enemies and their local agents,' he added. However, in response to his appeal, Nayak got the same reply from the ministry of external affairs: 'The information is not available with this office.' While the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also said that it does not have any information about the topic, Nayak is yet to file an appeal with it. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Foreign Secretary Locks X Account After Vicious Social Media Abuse Blaming Him for Ceasefire Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Brief Parliamentary Committee About Recent India-Pakistan Standoff Decision to Stop Military Action with Pakistan Taken Bilaterally, Foreign Secretary Tells Parl Panel Do We Want to Become Vishwa Guru or Vish Guru? Pak's Support to Terror, Op Sindoor, Indus Water Treaty: What the All-Party Delegations Will Address Foreign Secy Says 'Criticising Govt Hallmark of Democracy', But BJP Handles Have Missed the Memo Young Man Restrained at US Airport 'Had Entered Without Visa, Was Being Deported': US Tells India Amid Claims and Counter-Claims, Concerns over 'Escalation' Reach A New High Today Pakistan's Claim That India Would Attack Its Own Cities a 'Deranged Fantasy': FS View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.