New Delhi, May 28: A delegation level meeting of India and Pakistan today discussed the progress of permanent Indus Commission with Pakistani side side-stepping the contentious issue of having neutral experts on the Baglihar Hydel Project in Jammu and Kashmir. "We will speak about it after the meeting" which would conclude on Friday, Pakistan Indus commissioner Jamait Ali Shah told reporters when asked whether Islamabad would insist on the neutral experts.
India, yesterday, categorically ruled out possibility of any third party intervention to resolve objections raised under the treaty by Pakistan concerning the Baglihar Hydel Project.
"We do not want any third party intervention in the discussions between India and Pakistan on Indus Water Treaty," Water Resources Minister Arjun Charan Sethi has said.
Stating that the "environment is conducive", the Pakistani delegation leader said there would be no problem in arriving at a decision on the agenda of the three-day meeting.
A D Bhardwaj, Indus commissioner in India, said that both the sides were trying to finalise the annual report for the period ending March 31 which would be submitted to both the governments.
As per the Indus Waters Treaty's provisions, the permanent Indus Commissions of India and Pakistan are required to meet at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan and submit reports to their respective governments.
Bureau Report