May 20, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 19: The ministry of water and power has been stopped from issuing statements on Pakistan’s dispute with India over the controversial construction of Baglihar Power Project in the occupied Kashmir.

A government official said the ministry was stopped by the higher authorities on the request of the foreign office that statements every now and then could be interpreted negatively abroad in bilateral talks between the two sides on all issues, including Kashmir.

Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Jamaat Ali Shah, he said, would be leading a team to New Delhi to discuss all the controversial issues with his counterpart on May 28-31.

The power ministry has been asked to issue statements when there is some significant progress and that too after consulting the foreign office.

When Additional Secretary of the water and power ministry, Riaz Ahmad Khan, was asked whether May 28-31 meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission met the requirement of a 15-day notice Pakistan had issued to meet and decide about a neutral expert or was it just a routine meeting, he said: “NO comments.”

Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao was also advised not to comment when asked whether in-house preparations had been completed to present Pakistan’s case with the proposed neutral expert.

He parried questions on the subject, but finally said Pakistan wanted the situation should not go to a stage where it could not be reversed and issues should be resolved amicably.