ISLAMABAD, June 15: A five-member team will leave for New Delhi next week for talks on the Wullar Barrage dispute between the two countries, it is learnt. The two-day talks are scheduled for June 24-25. Secretary Water and Power Ashfaq Mehmood will head the delegation comprising Indus Waters Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah, director-general (South Asia Division) at Foreign Ministry Jalil Abbas Jilani and officials of the Pakistan Indus Waters Commission.

The last round of talks on Wullar Barrage, held in Islamabad in July 2004, remained inconclusive as both sides stuck to their respective positions.

The dispute relates to India’s intention to construct the Wullar Barrage on Jhelum river in occupied Kashmir, some 30 km north of Srinagar.

India had begun building the barrage in 1984, but stopped work three years later after Islamabad opposed the move. Although the work at the site is halted, India has not abandoned the project.

Since 1988 Pakistan and India have had 10 rounds of talks on the Wullar Barrage, also referred to as Tulbul Navigation project.

India says the barrage is aimed at facilitating navigation between Baramullah and Wullar in Jammu and Kashmir. However, Pakistan maintains that the project violates its rights as a lower riparian country granted by the 1960 bilateral water-sharing Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan also argues that in view of several improved communication links, serving as better alternatives to river navigation.