Indo-Pak 3-day talks on water projects underway

Three-day Indo-Pakistan negotiations started today on various issues including the controversial water projects of Baglihar Dam and Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project.Earlier on Friday, an eleven- member Indian delegation of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) arrived in the city.The Indian Indus Water Treaty Commissioner, G Aranga Nathan is leading the India delegation comprising some technical experts of the water sector in the annual meeting.The meetings would be held in Nespak early in the morning.Talking to the media at Allama Iqbal International Airport, G Aranga Nathan said no discussion is needed on Baglihar Dam as it had already been decided and India is complying with World Bank decision in this regard.Talking to media, Pakistani Commissioner of PIC Syed Jamaat Ali Shah said the commission would finalize the annual reports to be submitted to the respective governments.The issues of Kishanganga and Ori-II would also be discussed in the talks, he said, adding the Pakistani side would also ask the Indian delegation to set an intermediate meeting between the two countries’ PICs during the year. Meanwhile, sources said, besides the routine agenda, the Pakistani side would also put up the controversial issues, particularly Kishanganga and Baglihar hydropower India on the Chenab River. However, Ori-II abd Kishanganga would be the focus of talks, they added. The sources said the Pakistani team would emphasise the Indian delegation to announce an exact date for the inspection of the Baglihar project in order to determine whether the work was in accordance with the decision by the World Bank’s neutral expert, or not. The PIC is the only permanent body that exists between Pakistan and India since 1960 Waters Treaty was signed by the two countries with the World Bank playing a role of a facilitator. Pakistan’s major concern of the day is to ensure, on the spot, inspection of the Baglihar Dam as early as possible after the World Bank’s neutral expert had determined “differences” and allowed its construction with some important modifications. Pakistan has been urging India for the meetings of Baglihar and Kishangana in the last six months but received a cold response as New Delhi may start commissioning of Baglihar project on the Chenab River within next two to three months.