India, Pakistan hold talks on water-sharing
India and Pakistan began another round of talks Tuesday on resolving a water-sharing row triggered by New Delhi's decision to build a hydroelectric dam in divided Kashmir, a ministry spokesman said.
The dispute centres around India's plans to construct the Baghliar Dam over the Chenab river in Indian-controlled Kashmir's Jammu region. The dam is being built in two 450-megawatt phases.
Pakistan says the dam in Chandrakot in southern Doda district violates the 1960 Indus Water Treaty on river water sharing, one of the nuclear rivals' most enduring agreements that has held through two wars between the countries.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Islamabad fears the dam could interfere with the flow of water from the Chemab river and deprive it of vital irrigation in Pakistan's wheat-growing Punjab province. New Delhi says the fears are groundless.
"We are not violating the Indus Water Treaty," said federal cabinet minister Sharif Naiz.
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