August 30, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 16, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 29: Pakistan’s eight-member delegation on Wednesday left Lahore for New Delhi to hold fourth round of composite dialogue, which included 22-year-old Wullar Barrage dispute.

Talking to newsmen at the airport, Water and Power secretary Ismail Qureshi said that Pakistan would only reiterate its earlier stand that India must abandon the project as it clearly violated the Indus Basin Water Treaty.

“Under the treaty, India cannot build dam or reservoir on the Jehlum River and the barrage is violation of the same,” he said.

India has already suspended work on the dam and it is high time to abandon it altogether. In case of failure of talks, Pakistan would continue insisting on its point of view, he said. Another official of the ministry said the Wullar Barrage issue should not be seen in isolation as it was now part of the eight-point agenda of the composite peace process which had other items pending since Partition.