New Delhi: - Pakistan Delegation Visits India to Discuss Indus Water Treaty- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for his third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha on Monday, marking a significant milestone in Indian politics. Modi, who has held the Varanasi seat since 2014, took the oath alongside his Council of Ministers on June 9.
In a parallel development, a delegation from Pakistan arrived in India on Sunday evening to engage in discussions related to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. This treaty, signed between then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan with the World Bank as a signatory, regulates the sharing of the waters of the Indus River system.
The delegation's visit includes a scheduled trip to Kishtwar to inspect dam sites as part of their discussions under the treaty. The treaty mandates annual meetings between the two countries, alternating between India and Pakistan. The meeting scheduled for 2022 in New Delhi was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last meeting taking place in March 2023.
Central to the treaty's implementation is the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), a bilateral body comprising commissioners from both India and Pakistan. The PIC addresses technical matters and serves as a forum for resolving disputes that may arise regarding the treaty's interpretation and implementation.
One of the major points of contention has been India's construction of hydroelectric projects such as the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) plants. Pakistan has raised objections, alleging that these projects violate the treaty's provisions. India maintains that these projects are within its rights and comply with the treaty's guidelines.
Efforts to resolve disagreements have seen various approaches, including Pakistan's initial request for a Neutral Expert and subsequent proposal for arbitration. Despite several meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission between 2017 and 2022, Pakistan has been reluctant to engage in substantive discussions on the matter.
The World Bank, which brokered the treaty in 1960, has urged both countries to explore alternative solutions to address their ongoing disputes.
Security has been heightened around the hotel where the Pakistani delegation is staying in Jammu, reflecting the sensitivity and importance of the ongoing discussions.
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