Indus Waters Treaty

NEW DELHI: Pakistan is determined to take India to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects after a two-day meeting between the two sides failed to produce a breakthrough.In a statement after the meeting, India said it had pointed out to Pakistan that the latter was "violating provisions of thein rushing to a third forum, without attempting to avail Treaty provisions for amicably resolving matters of mutual concern." With Pakistan now set to approach the PCA in The Hague, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India hoped that Pakistan would "see reason in our (its) suggestions on the way forward."India believes Pakistan should allow the Indus Water Commission to do its work, and attempt to resolve the differences. India feels Pakistan's decison would make the commission less relevant. India would also have been happier with a neutral expert.Pakistan says it wants to resolve three issues related to freeboard, pondage and location of the orifices of spillways. Pakistan has already once taken the dispute to The Hague in 2013. The court allowed India to continue construction and to temporarily divert water from the Kishenganga river, but agreed with Pakistan on the method of flushing out of silt from the reservoir.But Pakistan fundamentally objects to India's constructing hydro projects on Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, which have been awarded to it under the Indus Waters Treaty . Although India is allowed to build run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects, this remains an issue of deep concern for Pakistan, which alternatively fears being flooded or dried out by India. However, that has never yet happened.“Talks for 2.5 years with India on resolution of Pakistan’s objections regarding Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric Plants (HEPs) failed and Pakistan with the consent of stakeholders decided to take it to full court of arbitration,” Pakistan Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said in a tweet.According to Pakistan media reports, the government debated for months on the different merits of appointing a neutral expert or going to the PCA. Ultimately, the Pakistan government, has opted to approach the full court of arbitration.Pakistan has reportedly hired a consortium of two US based law firms that include Three Crowns and Walliams & Connelly. “Both law firms are also well known lobbyists in US,” said media reports, quoting senior Pakistan government officials.