June 6, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 5: India has asked Pakistan to review its decision to appoint neutral experts for settlement of the dispute over the controversial Baglihar hydroelectric project being constructed by India on its side of the Chenab River.

Pakistan served India with a notice for appointment of neutral experts in early May.

The issue of neutral observers came up during talks between Pakistan and Indian officials at the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) held in New Delhi last week.

India maintains that Pakistan cannot seek appointment of neutral observers until the technical aspects of the project are discussed between the two sides.

“Indian position, as expressed in the Commission meeting last week, was that Pakistan’s decision to appoint neutral experts was pre-mature,” informed sources told Dawnon Thursday.

However, these sources said the Pakistani Commissioner pointed out that Pakistan had raised several objections to the design of the project in successive Commission meetings since May 1999. It was pointed out that the Indian side’s failure to give a satisfactory response to the questions raised by the Pakistani delegation left Pakistan with no option but to invoke Article IX (2) (a) of the Indus Waters Treaty, which called for appointment of neutral experts.

“Pakistan delegation accordingly urged the Indian Water Commissioner to respond to the points raised in terms of the treaty,” the sources said.

Pakistan considers the 450MW Baglihar power project design to be in clear breach of the 1960 bilateral water-sharing Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan’s main concern is that the submerged gated spillways provided for in the project would give India the capability to manipulate the flow of water to Pakistan’s disadvantage. Technical experts believe it could lead to acute water shortages in Pakistan.

The sources told Dawn that despite Pakistan’s stated position the Indian side insisted at the meeting last week that Pakistan reviewed its decision.

However, officials here say it is unlikely that Pakistan’s position will change based on the Indian request, which they said was intentionally delayed.

The insistence by the Indian side not to appoint neutral experts is seen by observers here as yet another attempt by India to buy time. Reports suggest that 60 per cent of the Indian project has already been completed.

Pakistan has already proposed names of three neutral experts from Canada and Britain.

The Indus Waters Treaty gives both countries the third party option in case of a deadlock over any issue.