Unresolved water issue could trigger Indo-Pak war, says Gilani's Advisor

Lahore, Jan.3 (ANI): The impending issues over sharing river water between India and Pakistan could trigger a war between the two countries, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on education, Sardar Aseff Ali has said.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a seminar here, Ali said Pakistan could pull out of the Indus Water Treaty with India, if the latter does not stop violating the treaty by constructing new dams on the Indus River, a move which could greatly affect Pakistan's water share.

He said Islamabad might also take the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or the United Nations Security Council.

"Solution to the problem can not be found through sentimental rhetoric and the Indus Water Treaty is the proper forum for resolving the water crisis," The Daily Times quoted Ali, as saying.

Responding to a question regarding the Baglihar Dam project, he blamed former President General Pervez Musharraf for failing to prevent India from constructing the dam.

"India had served two notices to the Musharraf regime before the construction of the dam, but the Musharraf government did not respond to them. The Musharraf regime only raised hue and cry when the dam had become operational," Ali Said.

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), inked between India and Pakistan in 1960, provides for the appointment of a neutral expert by the World Bank as a last option to resolve water related issues between both the countries.

Pakistan has been blaming India for an unsporting attitude during bilateral talks, which were initiated to resolve the impending water dispute.

Pakistan has been opposing the construction of the Kishanganga hydropower project on Ganga River in Kashmir, which is called Neelum upon entering Pakistan. Pakistan has said that the diversion of the waters of the Neelum is not allowed under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, and it will face a 27 per cent water deficit, when the project gets completed.

The reduced water flow in the Neelum would not yield the required results of the proposed 1.6 billion dollars Neelum-Jehlum hydropower project that has been designed to generate 969 MW of electricity.

It has said that India has almost completed a 22-kilometre long tunnel to divert Kishanganga waters to Wullar Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)