ISLAMABAD, April 30: Foreign Office Spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani has said that Pakistan wants resolution of the Kishanganga issue by mutual consent of Islamabad and New Delhi in accordance with the spirit of the Indus Water Treaty.
Talking to a TV channel, he said India was digging a tunnel to divert Neelum River water, which would reduce Pakistan’s share. Terming the diversion a clear violation of the Indus Water Treaty, the spokesman said Pakistan had invited India to hold talks on the issue.
He said: “Pakistan wants bilateral resolution of the Kishanganga issue. If India continues blatant Indus Water Treaty violations then Pakistan would be compelled to seek the World Bank’s arbitration on the issue also.”
Replying to a question, he said Pakistan had genuine objections on the Baglihar dam’s design.
India should have voluntarily stopped the construction on it soon after the emergence of Pakistani concerns, he said.
He said the aggressive Indian attitude had forced Pakistan to seek the World Bank’s support for amicable settlement of the Baglihar dam imbroglio.
After failure of bilateral talks, Pakistan adopted the right course by seeking World Bank’s arbitration, he said. Recently, India was told to cooperate with the World Bank for amicable resolution of the issue, he said.
“The process of World Bank arbitration is moving forward in the right direction. Pakistan wants resolution of water-related issues in accordance with set parameters of the Indus Water Treaty,” he added.—APP
