Baglihar project talks today

Published June 22, 2004

NEW DELHI, June 21: Keeping up the momentum of their positive meetings at various levels, India and Pakistan will hold secretary-level talks in New Delhi on Tuesday to resolve their dispute over the Baglihar dam in Jammu and Kashmir.

The talks are expected to bridge differences over the contentious Baglihar hydropower project being built by India on Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir to augment power supply in the state.

India had recently agreed to have technical-level talks and upgrade them to the secretary-level to arrive at a consensus on the issue. The move followed the failure of several rounds of talks at the level of Indus Water Commissioners to resolve the differences during the last one year.

The seven-member Pakistani delegation for the talks which arrived on Monday, is headed by Water and Power Secretary Ashfaq Mehmood. It includes Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah and other technical staff including senior engineers.