By KUNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan and India, the two South Asian nuclear rivals, Saturday began three-day long talks on water related issues including controversial projects of Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project and Baglihar Dam that Islamabad contends will deprive it of its share of water.
An 11-member Indian delegation of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) headed by the Indian Indus Water Treaty Commissioner Aranga Nathan, arrived in eastern city of Lahore on Friday.
During the first day of talks, sources told KUNA, the two sides held discussions on the routine agenda. They said the Pakistani side brought up the controversial issues of Kishanganga and Baglihar projects, but the Indian side appeared reluctant to discuss them, saying they were not of the agenda.
Earlier, Nathan told reporters that no discussion was needed on Baglihar Dam as it had already been decided and India was complying with World Bank’s decision in this regard.
Sources said that the Pakistani delegation urged the Indian counterpart to discuss the date for the inspection of Baglihar project to assess its compliance with the World Bank decision.
The PIC is the only permanent body that exists between Pakistan and India since 1960 Waters Treaty was signed by the two countries, with the World Bank playing a role of a facilitator.
Pakistan’s major concern of the day is to ensure, on the spot, inspection of the Baglihar Dam as early as possible after the World Bank’s neutral expert had determined “differences” and allowed India its construction with some important modifications.
Pakistan has been urging India for the meetings of Baglihar and Kishangana in the last six months but received a cold response as New Delhi may start commissioning of Baglihar project on the Chenab River within next two to three months.
The Baglihar Dam dispute between India and Pakistan centers on the height and size of the dam in the Ramban area of Indian-occupied Kashmir territory.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is opposed to the construction of the Kishanganga project on the Jhelum river in Indian Kashmir, as any diversion of water on the other side of the border will affect Pakistan’s hydropower project on the Neelum river.