Pakistan indicts India: Baghliar Dam is Violation of IWB Treaty   
By MD Malik - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said on Monday that India is violating the Indus water basin treaty.

During the weekly foreign office briefing the spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said that the construction of the Baghliar dam is a direct violation of the Indus water basin treaty, however Pakistan wants to solve all issue including Kashmir with India through negotiations.

He said that Pakistan hopes that the World Bank would take its decision on the issue according to its rules and regulations.

In response to a question the spokesman said that the dialogue for defence co-operation between the US and Pakistan is an ongoing process which includes the F-16 jets issue as well.

The spokesman said that Pakistan wants that a level of deterrence must be maintained for conventional weapons in the region.

Pak-EU Talks

In reply to another question Jalil Abbas Jilani said that talks between Pakistan and EU are underway on the GSP Plus but no final decision regarding the matter has been taken.

He said that Pakistan wants to get those facilities, which it had in the past, and these would further help in the elimination of poverty.

Iran Gas Pipeline

In response to a question regarding the gas pipeline between Iran, Pakistan and India Jilani said that there is no pressure from the Pakistani side on the issue and Pakistan would take its decision on the matter according to its national and economic interests.

In reply to another question the FO spokesman said Pakistan supports the increase in the number of seats at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) however it opposes the increase in the number of seats of permanent members at the UNSC.

India for bilateral Settlement

Meanwhile a report from New Delhi says that India Monday expressed the hope that differences with Pakistan over the 450 mw Baglihar hydroelectric project in held-Kashmir would be sorted out "bilaterally" instead of World Bank arbitration.

"We are hoping against hope that the issue will be sorted out bilaterally if a congenial atmosphere is built", Union Water Resources Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told newsmen when asked about India's recent plea to World Bank not to appoint a neutral expert as sought by Islamabad.

When asked about the differences on the Kishanganga project, he said, "we hope to resolve all pending issues bilaterally".

New Delhi had recently urged the World Bank to refrain from appointing a neutral expert as sought by Pakistan to resolve the differences between the two countries on the project over river Chenab, and to leave the parties to settle the remaining issues through mutual negotiations.

Islamabad has been voicing concerns over the project saying that its design was in violation of the certain provisions of the Indus Water Treaty 1960.

Dasmunsi also informed that an Indian team, which recently visited China also found as "incorrect" reports that Beijing was building a dam on river Brahmaputra.●