A pact respected by both sides

While India and Pakistan trade charges one day, and make peace offers on the other, the two sides seem to tackle apparently non-political bilateral disputes with a business-like approach.

A case in point is the 450 MW Baglihar hydroelectric project across River Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir. Disputes with regard to sharing river waters are dealt with by the Indus Water Commission, with members from the two countries. The commission came into existence after the then Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and then Pakistan president, Ayub Khan, signed the Indus Water Treaty in September, 1960.

Despite the acrimonious relations between the two countries, punctuated by the 1965 and 1971 wars, and the 1999 Kargil conflict, the provisions of the Indus Treaty were respected by both the sides.

Pakistan has objected to India building the Baglihar dam because it is likely to affect the water flow of the Chenab River into Pakistan.

According to the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has complete use of the western tributaries – Jhelum, Chenab and Indus – and India has rights over the eastern tributaries of Sind – Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. The Baglihar dam is meant to generate enough electricity for Jammu and Kashmir. The Central government had allocated Rs60 million for the Rs 200 million project this year. The Vajpayee government gesture is to win the goodwill of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian experts argue that the Baglihar project does not violate the provisions of the Indus Treaty, but Pakistan is not convinced. Islamabad has raised objections since 1999, and it is only last week that a Pakistan delegation led by Syed Jamait Ali Shah visited the site of the Baglihar dam, and held talks with the federal government officials as well as with those at the provincial government.

Shah said that he would be submitting a report about the inspection to the government. The Indian officials, on their part, express confidence that the project would be completed, and Pakistan's fears will be allayed.