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Pakistan and India have agreed on redesigning the Miyar Hydroelectric project, Radio Pakistan reported on Tuesday.
The agreement was reached following the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Indus Water Commissioners of Pakistan and India in Islamabad on Tuesday.
It was also agreed that the Lower Kalnai and Pakal Dul projects will be inspected again, Radio Pakistan reported.
The Pakistani delegation was headed by Mirza Asif Saeed, while P.K. Saxena led the Indian delegation.
India will be returning to the negotiating table with Pakistan to discuss disputed hydropower projects in April, following the intervention of the US and the World Bank.
Water and Power Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif had said on Monday that the two nations would hold three-day secretary-level talks on the Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects, under the aegis of the World Bank, in Washington from April 11.
“The US has intervened at the highest level to help both countries resolve the issue. There will be secretary-level talks on the Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower projects in Washington on April 11, 12 and 13,” Asif had said at a press conference on the sidelines of the two-day talks.
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Comments (53) Closed
Mar 21, 2017 03:49pm
what,, wow,, but they never agree on anything. ok God bless Hindustan & Pakistan. Good work. Now get over the religious stuff and open borders and stop terrorizing each other.
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Mar 21, 2017 03:57pm
Thank you Amreeeeka
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Mar 21, 2017 04:02pm
Let's hope that this is the beginning of end of hostility between two countries.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:01pm
There is huge loan repayment of World Bank by both countries.
Role of United States will count as major milestone.
Best thing is its win win situation for Kashmir people who will get electricity from the project which will never fade off due to continuous water flow of these rivers.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:21pm
"The US has intervened at the highest level to help both countries resolve the issue." The other day Pakistan are alleging colluding between India& US. What happened to that ??
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Mar 21, 2017 04:26pm
@Ali India don't terrorise anyone. India want Pakistan to curb terrorism.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:28pm
as long as our dams are not stopped from being build, its ok, a design twiged a little here and there, its ok, if it helps addressing pakistan concern
but is modi stops work completely he is out in 2019
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Mar 21, 2017 04:29pm
@Arun stop supporting and funding TTP, and BNP. India is just buying time to complete these projects.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:30pm
I hope militants don't attack India again to sabotage this baby step in right direction.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:36pm
@Arun ...there are individuals and vigilantes on both side of the border, no one is an angel here.
The best way forward is for both the nations to take destiny in their own hands, think about the people and the potential the region haves and make good choices rather than let outside forces use them as history would tell.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:36pm
If terrorism stops across the border, there will be no issue for India.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:37pm
Just built maximum numbers of dams,storage of water extremely necessary. . Most important for development .
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Mar 21, 2017 04:37pm
@Arun then what was Yadav doing in Pakistan? Selling curry? Or what has India to do with Afghanistan? Get real.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:49pm
@zf
Was he caught with documents? with weapons? red handed?
Then why Pak top brass has confessed several times, that there is no credible evidence against him.
Personal confession (in custody) has no value in court of law.
Even if so, every country has their own spy network against others.
How many years you people will beat same drum.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:56pm
Cop out by Modi. All that rhetoric was election Jumla then.
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Mar 21, 2017 04:57pm
As our PM once said that water and blood cannot flow at the same time.If terrorism stopped,not only water other goodies will flow across the border.
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Mar 21, 2017 05:02pm
When did khawaja Asif become water and power minister
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Mar 21, 2017 04:59pm
USA and world bank can only use goodwill and request India to do this. Definitely can not arm twist India.
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Mar 21, 2017 05:07pm
Modi over inflated balloon got burst?
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Mar 21, 2017 05:12pm
India, under Modi would keep on building dams.
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Mar 21, 2017 05:17pm
@Khan prove it all very well talking rubbish but where is the proof?
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Mar 21, 2017 05:19pm
The Dams are complete
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Mar 21, 2017 05:25pm
@Taimoor khan USA is a friend and we respect WB so we could not turn down their request. Or else even china could not arm twist India here.
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Mar 21, 2017 05:40pm
Redesign, redraw, re-whatever. Point of matter is construction of dam, India's "sole purpose" to draw and utilise water, for its people will continue. India has too much funds to fuss over trivial matters like shape of project. More interested in the purpose and end result of project-utilizing water. As long as our desired outcome is recieved, we are happy. India will continue to use each drop of water under the treaty. So the claim about america is laughable.
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Mar 21, 2017 05:48pm
@Ali : "Now get over the religious stuff and open borders and stop terrorizing each other"
First you may stop calling Hindustan. Even we Indians are calling 'India' instead of Hindustan.
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Mar 21, 2017 05:56pm
"India and Pakistan agree" These 4 words are the rarest combination of modern South Asia.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:02pm
@Taimoor khan Wait for result.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:20pm
Am surprised that the delegations agreed on something !
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Mar 21, 2017 06:37pm
Good beginning. why not Pakistan also build a number of dams on the five rivers and their tributaries on their soil? India is not going to object. It will be a better exercise than only building roads which lead to deserts.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:37pm
It would seem that most of the noise was about the coming local elections in India.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:36pm
We need to get over our differences and build the region fast pace.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:51pm
@Taimoor khan Modi over inflated balloon got burst?
u have lots to learn about real politic, and geo politics
see what we gain see what u gains, its not about what ur opposition lose, its what u gain
if by agreeing we gain , then we agree, even if it means pakistan too gains
no zero sum games
grow up, forget the street bravado, that for kids, a leader has to see the benefit for his people not his pride
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Mar 21, 2017 06:54pm
@TR For the simple reason the Pakistan is a lower riparian country and India an upper riparian.
Wouldn't India object to China, here China is a upper riparian country, if she starts constructing more dam on Barahamaputra and other rivers as most of them originates in Tibet, China.
BTW Indus also originated from China if you look into the maps. So it can be diverted if India stops the water flow.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:56pm
Looks like a step in the forward direction. I would still like to believe that India has taken this opportunity to mend fences. Please reciprocate appropriately.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:57pm
@Arun - "@Ali India don't terrorise anyone. India want Pakistan to curb terrorism."
But terrorist activities in Baluchistan and Karachi seem to disagree with this claim.
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Mar 21, 2017 06:56pm
I believe the dam issue is a misunderstanding and unnecessarily politicized. Any dam will store water and utilize during needy time, and major portion will be released down stream and because of dam power generation is a value added. All excess water any way will go to sea and is already happening. This dam is beneficial to Kashmiri people.
During the meeting both sides understand tweaking the design is to clarify/satisfy other persons misunderstanding.
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Mar 21, 2017 07:25pm
Good time has come.
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Mar 21, 2017 07:34pm
@Arun: This is no time to talk terror.
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Mar 21, 2017 07:35pm
Let us hope that this becomes the first drop of rain before a cat & dog shower of understandings in all spheres.
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Mar 21, 2017 08:06pm
Yeah we can modify design to please you, but we'll keep building our dams and thus reserve the power to control flow of water to you. So win-win for both.
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Mar 21, 2017 08:33pm
It was US and world bank. I am sure that what Indians were doing was way outside the legal and ethical boundaries and US had no choice to pressurize India into agree to redesign the dams otherwise it would look very bad in history books.
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Mar 21, 2017 08:43pm
@MMM : Redesign of dam doesn't mean dam construction work is going to stop. Kisanganga dam project was completed with some minor tweak in design. In same way other dams will be also completed .
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Mar 21, 2017 09:24pm
India wants its legitimate of water under the treaty but at the same time does not seem to be liberal in allowing any extra flow to which Pakistan is used to and it taking it for granted as its right. Whether it is Usa or World bank they are not going to redraft the treaty. At best they can ask for its adherence.
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Mar 21, 2017 09:44pm
@Ali
well commented.
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Mar 21, 2017 09:47pm
Nothing tangible will happen. This is a well played card by Indian political powers. This ensures their interests are sustainef in Pakistan(current ruling elite) till the elections. After that its business as usual while the government gets some "accomplishments" for their voters portfolio.
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Mar 22, 2017 02:38am
Diplomacy is the way mature nations choose to resolve issues. Good step, hope this practice will be continued.
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Mar 22, 2017 05:17am
I have this strong feeling that Pk and India will be the best friends soon.
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Mar 22, 2017 07:48am
Time of India reports " Indian official has denied that India is going to participate in US meeting . They also deny any agreement to stop the dam project ."
What next ??
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Mar 22, 2017 08:23am
I hope the agreement doesn't significantly reduce the power generation from this dam.
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Mar 22, 2017 03:38pm
@zf ...What has India got to do with Afghanistan ?
Same as what Pakistan has got to do with Turkey !
India has thousands of years of friendly trade relations with Afghanistan
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Mar 22, 2017 04:12pm
So the US is mediating between the two countries. Then they can also mediate on the Kashmir issue...........
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Mar 22, 2017 05:03pm
@zf ...What has India got to do with Afghanistan ?
shared vision and shared interests in establishing friendly ties and improving trade, defeating religious extremism, and above all ensuring that a strong democratic government is restored in Afghanistan which will keep taliban like elements away from power.
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Mar 23, 2017 06:50am
@Dipak dams are needed in the entire region
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