Indus River Talks Start As Pakistan Sends Delegation To India

There is water dispute that needs to be dealt with between Pakistan and India. The dispute brings delegation to India after the new PM has taken charge of a coalition government, amidst Imran Khan throwing a fit around the country over his dismissal.

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The five-member delegation from Pakistan will also be talking about the Indus Water Treaty. The rivers under controversy and water sharing talks includes Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

While the Pakistani side is being led by Mehr Ali Shah, the Indian side is being led by water commissioner AK Pal.

Both sides met earlier in May where both nations had agreed and reiterated their commitment to implement the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in its true spirit.

Under the IWT, the rivers were divided between India and Pakistan. While Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab were allocated to Pakistan, Beas, Sutlej and Rabi stayed with India.

India now plans to build a dam to generate hydroelectricity. The intend is to make constructive non-consumption use of the river’s water. Signed in 1960s, between the then PMs of both nations, the treaty has been seen as one of the most successful methods of bringing about peace between the nations.

While both can use water for war purposes, till date neither have resorted to such inhumanity. The treaty does allow respective countries to use their waters for production of electricity, storage and irrigation primarily, apart from consumption.

The highlight of the Pakistani visit continues to be raising concerns over three controversial hydropower projects in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakal Dul, Talnai, and Karo, with Delhi during the talks under the Indus water agreement.  

Speaking to the media, Mr. Shah has said that, “Pakistan has concerns over India’s three big projects on Chenab River. There will also be the talk of early warning of floods in rivers coming from India during the talks.”