LAHORE – A five-member Pakistani delegation left for New Delhi today(Sunday) as talks between nuclear-armed neighbors on water disputes willbegin on Monday.
The delegation led by Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed MuhammadMehr Ali Shah crossed into India via Wagah border.
In his pre-visit statement, Shah maintained that the Pakistani delegationwill not visit any hydropower projects being built on Jhelum and Chenabwhile officials will raise objections to Indian projects that violate theIndus Waters Treaty’s provisions.
Pakistani officials will make the trip through the Wagah Border to theneighboring country, Mehr Ali Shah added.
Delegations of archrivals will also exchange views on flood forecast datawhile the PCIW (Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Water) annual report willalso be discussed during the talks.
This is the second Pakistani delegation to visit the neighboring country inthe last few weeks. Previously, a Pakistani delegation visited India forShanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) regional anti-terror structuremeet.
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Earlier this year, Islamabad and New Delhi reiterated pledges to implementthe Indus Waters Treaty in its true spirit.
Pakistan has opposed some other Indian projects saying they violate theIndus water treaty.
Under the historic treaty between the two sides, Pakistan has been givencontrol over the three western rivers – the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab whilethe waters of the eastern rivers – the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi – have beenallocated to India.
Two sides inked a water-distribution agreement in 1960 that allows them touse the water from the Indus River and its tributaries.
