ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India resumed talks on the Indus Waters Treaty during the two-day 113th meeting of Permanent Indus Commission in Islamabad today.
The agenda of the talks includes discussions on the design aspects of Pakal Dul, Lower Kalnai and Miyar hydroelectric plants, flood data supply by India and programme of tours of inspection and meetings by Pakistan and India to the sites of their interest in the Indus basin.
The Indian delegation is led by Indian Indus Water Commissioner P.K. Saxena. Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Mirza Asif Baig is leading the Pakistani officials meeting their Indian counterparts.
Addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Water and Power, Minister of Defence and Water and Power Khawaja Asif welcomed the Indian delegation. He said he would not make any speculations on the resolution of disputes.
Addressing a press conference Asif said, “We will defend our rights with full zeal and vigour.”
“I am happy to announce that the process of bilateral talks has been set in on the Indus Waters Treaty following efforts by Pakistan,” the minister said.
“The talks, postponed since 2015, have resumed due to efforts made by the government,” said Asif. “They are in the best interests of both neighbours.”
Secretary level talks on Ratal power project would be held next month on April 11-13 in the United States under the aegis of the World Bank, he remarked.
Pakistan opted for arbitration following the failure of secretary level talks on both the issues held in India in last July, he said.
Khawaja Asif said, “Pakistan had been urging for implementation of the decision on the issue of construction of Kishan Ganga dam on the Jehlum river.”
“Ratal power project is in the initial stages and Pakistan had already expressed reservations on its design,” he added.
“Pakistan had already taken up both the issues at the World Bank level,” he said.
During the process, he said that Pakistan had always been struggling to keep the talks process continue in the light of Indus Basin Waters Treaty, but the other side was not inclined to keep the ball rolling for the peaceful settlement of the issues.
“It is a happy augury that of late India has come back to the dialogue table at the Commission level to re-launch the process of peaceful talks. We welcome this decision of India, which has despatched the Commission to Pakistan for holding two-day parleys.”
Pakistan had always been pleading that the Indus Basin Waters Treaty was one of the few world level treaties that provided forum to get resolution of water issues in a peaceful manner. “Implementation and safeguard of this treaty is in the best bilateral interest,” he observed.
The Indian Commission is being headed by P K Saxena while Mirza Asif Beg is representing Pakistan.
Responding to a question, the minister said, “The Neelum Jhelum power project would be completed in March, 2018.”
