Representational Image | Photo Credit: PTI

Islamabad: A nine-member team of Indian officials will travel to Pakistan for a meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) on August 29-30. The team headed by Indus Water Commissioner PK Saxena will hold discussions with their Pakistani counterparts, in what is being described as India’s first official engagement with the new Imran Khan-led administration.

According to India, the talks are considered a “mandatory requirement” under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The two sides last met in New Delhi for the 114th meeting of the PIC in March. The two sides discussed the IWT dispute and resolution of outstanding issues in the backdrop of diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan.

Among some of the pending issues which are likely to be discussed include Pakistan’s concerns over India’s Pakal Dam (1000 MW), Ratle (850 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW) projects in Chenab basin. Pakistan has concerns over the design of these projects which it says are in violation of the 1960 IWT whereas India maintains that the projects are well within with IWT’s ambit.

The IWT was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan for water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers of the Indus river system – Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi, Sutlej and Indus. According to the treaty, waters of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas are reserved for India while Pakistan has rights over waters of Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

The PIC is a mechanism under the IWT with a mandate to establish and maintain cooperation over the implementation of water distribution agreement and promote cooperation for developing the Indus water systems between India and Pakistan.