Too busy in other 'larger' matters of the state, the government is consistently ignoring the problem in Sindh. Sending the police to occasionally beat up demonstrators does not mean paying attention. It only means that the government is treating the JSQM and MQM led agitation as a nettlesome but local law and order problem. This could be a serious mistake.

A deeply divisive game is being played which threatens the very integrity of the country. JSQM/MQM combine is whipping up agitation in Sindh with very wicked motives. The water shortage is not exclusive to that province. Yet, it is being used to inflame passion and sow seeds of discord between the people of Punjab and Sindh. One need not be an Einstein to figure out that this has very dangerous implications.

The urban type may not understand how deeply felt the emotions are where water is concerned. Hundreds of people in the rural areas are killed or injured every year because of water disputes. Water is the lifeline of rural society. People's livelihood, future, happiness, pain, sustenance and support, and at times their very existence depend on the availability of water. There is very little margin for error where this issue is concerned.

The government has gone way past this margin and is continuing to make a mistake by not giving a higher priority to tackling the fallout of the water shortage. There is a need to analyse why all of a sudden has MQM decided to link up with diehard Sindhi nationalists. They were deadly enemies not too long ago but not anymore. Why? There is also need to determine the extent of damage that this agitation has already caused. Not on the ground but in the hearts and minds of the people of Sindh.

Further, every effort must be made to understand the effect that water diversion to Sindh is having on the people of Punjab, particularly of Southern Punjab. They seem to be the big losers in this game as their share of the water is supposedly being passed on. This may not be entirely true but this is the perception. And, perceptions as we all know are more powerful than reality.

Finally, a serious thought has to be given to initiatives, both political and on the propaganda front, to defuse tension between the provinces. So far we see zero effort. No political dialogue is visible with any credible representative of Sindh. And statements and press releases speak of every thing under the sun but rarely of water problem and what the government is doing about it. Letting this matter fester without a resolution is neither good for the people or for the country.

It is unfortunate that instead of precisely analysing the problem and then taking corrective measures, the government's preferred solution is to give in and hope for the best. It has given in to the most absurd demands emanating out of Sindh. Yet, the problem does not go away because it has little to do with reality and more to do with political objectives. Even if the water quota for Sindh were doubled, there would still be a problem because some interests do not want a resolution.

Political objectives of the MQM/JSQM may be different, but the Sindh government is busy playing its own clever little game. It is using the threat of agitation to seek more water from IRSA and has been successful so far. This may be okay as a political tactic but the cost to the country is high. Every government has the right to pursue its interest but a line has to be drawn somewhere. Clearly, the integrity of the country has greater value than any temporary gain for a provincial government.

Someone should ask Governor Sindh what has he done so far to reach out to the people and tell them the real story regarding water shortages. The real story being that there is a shortage and everyone has to bear their part of the pain. He is an appointee of the Federal Government and virtually a bureaucrat. He has no reason to play such politics. Yet, he is an immovable object content to reap temporary benefit out of a potentially dangerous situation.

The Sindh government also needs to explain why the agitation has not been contained so far. One is not suggesting collusion but the situation is slowly but steadily getting out of hand. Two people were killed on Tuesday and much life and property lost. It is obvious that very little was done to preempt the situation. Why?

There are many views on why MQM and JSQM have begun to collaborate with each other. There is a pessimistic view that sees all this as grand conspiracy to dismember Pakistan. It is said that JSQM's nationalist demands had always bordered on outright secession. MQM had hidden its intentions better although stories of Karachi being made into a Jinnahpur have been around for years. Through a weird but perfectly understandable political calculus their objectives have combined. They are both now out to undo Pakistan.

Altaf Hussain's recent statements and activities have also not helped matters. He is suddenly very active in nationalist politics. He has been closely in touch with radical elements in Baluchistan and Frontier. He has also recently used the word 'Bahini' to describe a political cum fighting force of the Mohajirs. This is charged word as it conjures up memories of the worst crisis in our history, the break up of Pakistan.

Some say even his marriage to a Sindhi girl is a cleverly calculated political step. He is building bridges to Sindhi community in the knowledge that in any future scenario, the Sindhis and Mohajirs would have to live together. He is making sure that when the time comes, everyone should be ready to accept him as the undisputed leader of Sindh. So it goes.

This dark view of conspiracies against Pakistan is not accepted by everyone. For want of a better word, the optimists look at the entire issue very differently. This is what they say. MQM may have genuinely felt that time has come to bridge the discord between Sindhis and Mohajirs. It sees the water shortage as a perfect issue because it deeply touches the rural society. Joining a rural Sindhi cause bolsters its credentials beyond the tag of being just a Mohajir party.

Similarly the JSQM design may be less sinister than secession. For all its nationalist designs, it has been a fringe party in Sindh. Pakistan Peoples Party has so far effectively shut the political door on it. JSQM may feel that the time has come to change this political equation. It has therefore latched on to an emotive issue to reap as much political benefit as it can.

In other word, according to the optimists, both these parties are only playing clever politics. They have no sinister design greater than enlarging their vote bank. In fact, it is good that MQM is linking up with rural Sindhis. It means that we would have less of the Sindhi-Mohajir problem in the future.

My heart tells me to go with the optimists and hope that one good Monsoon would take care of this problem between the provinces. Yet, there is a part of me that worries about the damage that may already have been done. We are a multi ethnic, multi lingual society. It does not take very much to bring the language of prejudice out in the open. Not much at all to bring out that rawest of all emotions; hate.

Hate is an easy indulgence because it provides a reason for all of life's miseries. It furnishes a scapegoat to pin the blame for whatever troubles us. In a land where the burden of existence is getting heavier by the day we need to be careful. It would not take very much for hate to take over.

The government must do its part by reaching out to the people of Sindh. And to the people of southern Punjab who are feeling very aggrieved at the moment. Handling of the water issue requires a sensitive touch and compassion. These are not very martial attributes but the responsibility of the military is now much greater than war. It has to bring the country together.