30 December 2004	Thursday	17 Ziqa'ad 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Pakistan will dispatch to India a team led by the secretary water and power during the first week of January to "hold conclusive negotiations" with the Indian side for resolution of the Baglihar Dam issue.

This was announced here on Wednesday after a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Ministers for water and power and foreign affairs, adviser to the prime minister on finance, the Attorney-General of Pakistan and senior officials of the respective ministries attended the meeting.

An official statement said the Minister for Water and Power, Liaqat Jatoi, briefed the meeting on the status of negotiations with India on the issue. The meeting "discussed various options for resolution of the issue," it said.

The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan cover construction of dam and specified how this has to be handled. "Pakistan wants construction of Baglihar dam to be treaty compliant," said the statement.

Final dates for the meeting of secretaries of water and power of the two countries are in the process of being finalized through diplomatic channels, the sources said, adding that the possible dates would be between Jan 3 and 7.

The sources said the relevant authorities were directed to get everything prepared, including legal and financial requirements, so that the World Bank could be formally requested for appointment of a neutral expert immediately, in case of the forthcoming conclusive talks in New Delhi fail to address Pakistan's concern over construction of the controversial project.

The sources said the data provided by New Delhi to Islamabad recently rather confirmed Pakistan's objections although India had different position on the subject. Pakistan wants immediate stoppage of construction work on the project. Sources said the two sides confirmed that even the ungated structure would not reduce power generation capacity of the project but it would have higher construction cost.

The sources said the leading international experts have informed Pakistan that it has a very strong case against India on the subject and it could redress its concerns through the World Bank route. Pakistan has already started taking into confidence the international diplomatic community on the subject.

The bilateral water-sharing treaty gives both the countries the third party option in case of a deadlock over any issue. Article IX of the treaty provides for settling disputes through neutral experts or arbitration if they cannot be resolved between the two Indus Waters Commissioners.

The decision to have one last meeting on the Baglihar issue was arrived at the Nov 24 meeting between Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in New Delhi.