Islamabad, Jan 14: Top officials of the Indo-Pak Indus Water Commission would meet here on January 16 to discuss Islamabad's objections to the construction of the 450 MW power project over river Chenab at Baglirar in Jammu and Kashmir. A seven-member team headed by the Indian Commissioner or Indus waters, A C Gupta would arrive here tomorrow to discuss construction of the Baglihar dam on Chenab, which Pakistan claims was being built by India in violation of the 1961 Indus Water Treaty brokered by World Bank.

The meeting is seen as a crucial as it is being held after Pakistan recently served a notice to India that it would approach a third party arbitrator if it does not halt the construction of the project. Islamabad reiterated its objections even after India permitted Pakistan commissioner for Indus waters, Syed Jamaat Ali Shah to visit the project and two months ago on its request.

Unlike the past meetings, which were held under the shadow of bilateral tensions, Friday's meeting would be held in the backdrop of thaw in relations following a series of CBMs and the January 5 meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyaee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of SAARC summit.

In the run up to the meeting, Pakistan officials however, continue to appear stiff by reiterating their objections. Bureau Report