Pakistan asks India to Stop Work on Kishanganga Project
'Pakistan Times' Foreign Desk

NEW DELHI (India): Pakistan has asked India to stop work on Kishanganga and Uri-2 hydel projects in held Kashmir till the removal of Pakistan’s objections on their designs.

During a four-day meeting of the Indus Water Commissioners, Pakistan also threatened to seek World Bank intervention if India did not stop work on the 240MW Uri power project over the Jhelum river.

“A request has been made to stop the ongoing construction, pending resolution of the issue,” Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamat Ali Shah told reporters, after the talks with his Indian counterpart DV Thareja here.

Underlining the need for resolving the water disputes in a timeframe and in the spirit of Indus Waters Treaty, Shah said both the sides had agreed to hold a special meeting in August or early September to discuss objections raised by Pakistan on the two projects.

“Pakistan strives for resolving the issues in a mutually beneficial manner.”

Pakistan has objected to the design of the Uri-II project, particularly the pondage capacity and the gates, said Shah, who visited the Uri-II site in March this year.

Asked what if the Pakistani demand was not met, Shah said: “If the (Indus Water) Commissioners are not able to resolve the issue, the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty provides for going to court for arbitration.”

Similarly, he said the diversion of the Neelum river for Kishanganga hydel projects will hamper the flow, ultimately affecting the socio-economic and environmental conditions in the downstream Neelum Valley.●