In February 2010, the US Ambassador in Tripoli discussed the new water tax for international oil companies (IOCs) with Shokri Ghanam, head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC). The Ambassador contended that the tax was a breach of contract as IOC agreements included free access to water. Water is used in operations for re-injection into reservoirs. In reply, Ghanam stated that use of freshwater is included in Libya’s Petroleum Law. He hinted that IOCs were using too much freshwater which was otherwise needed for consumption and irrigation.

When US Senator John Kerry spoke to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on 16 February 2010, he suggested that “cooperation on counter terrorism with the Indians could lead to Indian compromises on key Pakistani issues such as Kashmir and water use”. Pakistan claims that the Baglihar Dam in the Indian-administered part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir is obstructing the flow of the Chenab river into their country.