India non-committal about meeting with Pakistan on hydel projects

NEW DELHI: India today remained non-committal about its participation in a meeting with Pakistan on its two hydropower projects to be held in the US next month, days after a senior Pakistan minister had made an announcement in Islamabad about such a meet.

Referring to the Indo-Pak talks under the Indus Waters Treaty in Pakistan on March 20-21, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said they had detailed technical discussions at the meeting which were being assessed.

"At this stage, it would be premature to talk of hypothetical contingencies," Baglay said.

The spokesperson was asked about Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif's reported remarks in Islamabad that India and Pakistan will hold three-day secretary-level talks on India's Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects.

Asif was quoted by the Pakistani media as saying, "The US has intervened at the highest level to help both countries resolve the issue. There will be secretary-level talks on the Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower projects in Washington on April 11, 12 and 13."

"We are happy that India has finally agreed to resume talks at the commission level," he said, referring to the Indus Commission meeting.

Baglay also made it clear that there has been no change in India's position on any of the matters discussed at the commission meeting, amidst Pakistani media reports that India has withdrawn the design of the Miyar hydroelectric project in Himachal Pradesh following objections by Pakistan.

He also reiterated that the meeting of the Permanent Indus Water Commission is a mandatory requirement under the treaty and so long as India is a party to the Treaty, it is its legal obligation to attend the Treaty-mandated meetings which is held at least once every financial year.