Pak violating Indus Waters Treaty: India

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 16

India today pointed out that Pakistan was violating the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty by deciding to move the court of arbitration over the construction of two dams.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said Pakistan was breaching provisions of the 1960 pact by rushing to a third party without trying to resolve the issue bilaterally. He said this was made clear to Pakistan’s water and power secretary when he visited New Delhi on July 14-15.

“The issue refers to concerns pertaining to two hydro-electric projects, Kishenganga (330 MW on Jhelum’s tributary) and Ratle (850 MW on Chenab),” Swarup said.

“During the (New Delhi) talks, both sides stated their views at government level. We hope the Pakistan side will see reason in our suggestions on the way forward,” he added.

Pakistan’s minister for water and power Khawaja Asif announced on Friday the decision to move the International Court of Arbitration alleging objectionable designs on the dams which might affect water flows to Pakistan.