ISLAMABAD, July 4: Pakistan on Monday asked India to abandon the Wullar barrage project on Jhelum river, saying it would cause interference in the flow of water, which was against the terms of the Indus Water Treaty. Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said at his weekly media briefing that the Pakistani delegation which visited India last week held detailed discussions on the project. “Extensive discussions were held over two days, which covered all the technical aspects related to the project,” he said.
He said that under the Indus Water Treaty, only 10,000 acre-feet of water storage was allowed while the project envisaged storage of 324,000 acre-feet, which was 32 times what the treaty allowed.
He said the Indian design contemplated construction over the Jhelum river, while the treaty stated that no man-made structure was allowed over it.
“The Wullar barrage construction is a violation of the Indus Water Treaty,” he said.
Mr Jilani said the two countries had agreed on a schedule over the Baglihar dam issue at a meeting held in Paris.
He said India had sent data and documents related to the project to Pakistani experts, who would study those and substantiate their objections.
“Pakistani experts will inspect the site in the first week of October before joint inspection by the experts of the two countries,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said progress on issues between the two countries had not been according to what Pakistan wished.
When asked about reports that Pakistani diplomats were being harassed in India, he said Islamabad had sought details from its mission in New Delhi.
He said it was a coincidence that Pakistani and Indian prime ministers were visiting Washington during the current month but they would be in the United States on different dates.
The spokesman said that the US, like the rest of the world, was interested in peaceful resolution of issues between Pakistan and India for bringing peace and stability to the region.
Mr Jilani said that after a long time there had been frequent high-level contacts between the leadership of Pakistan and India.
“These engagements give hope that there will be an early resolution of all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India and that the main issue of Kashmir will be resolved,” he said.
The spokesman said trust between Pakistan and India would be established by resolution of all issues and disputes.
“We do want to proceed with people-to-people contact but the issue of Kashmir needs to be resolved; otherwise the trust level between Indian and Pakistan would not improve,” he said.
In reply to a question, the spokesman said the government had conveyed its concerns to New Delhi over the induction of sophisticated weapons, following the recent US-India defence agreement.
“It would perpetuate an arms race which Pakistan does not want to enter, It would remain a matter of concern and Pakistan would continue to raise it with the US administration,” he said.
About permission granted by the commerce ministry for import of certain goods from India, he said transportation of all such items would be allowed through the Wagah border.
He said the matter of granting of US visa to former vice-chief of army staff Gen (retired) M. Yousaf had been amicably settled according to the satisfaction of Mr Yousaf.
In reply to a question about the reported arrest of five Pakistanis in Kabul for an alleged plot to assassinate former US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, he said Pakistan had asked for the details about those arrested and their whereabouts but none had so far been provided.
The spokesman said the recent meeting of the tripartite commission on security issues among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US had particularly noted Islamabad’s contribution.
He said a stable Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan and reiterated that Islamabad would continue to extend fullest cooperation in this regard.
He said Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan were improving at a fast pace and the trade between the two countries had touched the $1 billion mark.
Mr Jilani said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would visit Afghanistan to forge better economic cooperation in all areas.
About President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Saudi Arabia, he said it was in the context of bilateral cooperation and to discuss regional and international issues.—APP
