New Delhi: A five-member Pakistani delegation will visit India next week for talks over the ongoing water dispute under the Indus Water Commission between the two countries. According to a media report published in Pakistan's Dawn, the talks between the nations will be held in New Delhi from May 30-31. The newspaper quoted Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehr Ali Shah confirming the meeting. 

The delegation would reach India through the Wagah Border.

"There will be talks on the sharing of flood forecast data while the PCIW (Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Water) annual report will also be discussed during the negotiations," Shah said.

He said the Pakistani delegation will not visit the under-construction Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai dams but those and other projects will come under discussion.


The visit comes months after the Indian delegation visited Islamabad for annual the meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The Indian delegation was in the capital city from March 1 to March 3 and was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters.


This is the second Pakistani delegation to visit India in the last few weeks. Earlier this month, a Pakistani delegation visited Delhi for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) regional anti-terror structure (RATS) meet.


In March, India and Pakistan had reiterated their commitment to implement the Indus Waters Treaty in its true spirit and expressed the hope that the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission would be held at an early date in India.

Under the relevant provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the meeting takes place alternatively in Pakistan and India annually.


Indus Water Treaty 1960


Under the Indus water treaty of 1960, waters of three eastern rivers —Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—are allocated to India for unrestricted use while the three western rivers —Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab— go to Pakistan.


Additionally, New Delhi has the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects on the three western rivers, subject to specific criteria for design.  


Pakistan can, under the treaty, raise objections to the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.


(with PTI inputs)