WASHINGTON: A four-member delegation from Pakistan headed by Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali is due to visit Washington next week to appraise the top World Bank officials about Pakistan’s serious concern over the Kishanganga hydropower project that was inaugurated this week.
Talking to the media at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that the delegation will visit the US capital from Monday through Wednesday during which it will hold high-level talks with the World Bank officials on the project.
Pakistan has termed the inauguration of the project without the resolution of the dispute as a serious violation of the Indus Waters Treaty brokered by the World Bank in 1960 that governs the distribution and control of rivers between Pakistan and India.
Ambassador Chaudhry expressed Pakistan’s serious concern over the project that has become operational and said that Islamabad had conveyed its strong opposition to the construction of the project to the World Bank but it had been ignored. India plans to undertake several such project in the disputed territory.
He said that as the World Bank is a guarantor of the treaty, it has to play its role in addressing Pakistan’s concerns over the project that has been constructed on waters flowing into Pakistan and would seriously disrupt supplies vital for the country’s agriculture.
India started the work on the 330 MW Kishanganga in 2009, but Pakistan took the issue to the International Court of Justice and also raised the issue with the World Bank.
Ambassador Chaudhry said that the World Bank needed to intervene in the matter, and it was the responsibility of the world body to fulfill its obligation as the guarantor of the international agreement.
Pakistan delegation to discuss Kishanganga Dam with World Bank officials in Washington
Pakistan delegation to discuss Kishanganga Dam with World Bank officials in Washington
- Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that a four-member delegation from Pakistan will visit the US capital next and hold high-level talks with the World Bank officials on the project
- Pakistan has termed the inauguration of the project without the resolution of the dispute as a serious violation of the Indus Waters Treaty
Pakistan expresses concern over Venezuela situation, calls for adherence to UN charter
- The statement came after President Nicolás Maduro was deposed and captured in a US military operation
- Islamabad says closely monitoring developments, remains engaged in ensuring safety of Pakistani community
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday expressed concern over the evolving situation in Venezuela and urged all parties to adhere to the principles of the United Nations (UN) charter, its foreign office said.
The statement came a day after President Nicolás Maduro was deposed and captured in a US military operation, with an uncertain future ahead in the South American nation.
While Maduro was in custody in New York, the officials who had surrounded him remained in power and demanded his release. The presidential palace was guarded by armed civilians and members of the military.
Pakistan’s foreign office said that Islamabad attaches great importance to the well-being of the people of Venezuela and views with concern the evolving situation in Venezuela.
“We urge the need for restraint and deescalation to end the crisis, and underscore the necessity for adherence to the principles of the UN charter as well as international law to resolve all outstanding issues,” it said.
The statement came as Venezuelans remained shell-shocked on Sunday.
A tense calm settled over the capital, Caracas, which was unusually quiet. Many stores, gas stations and churches remained closed and people patiently lined up outside others, staring at their phones or into the distance, AP news agency reported.
A number of government supporters rallied over the weekend, some burning US flags.
“We are closely monitoring the developments and remain engaged in ensuring the safety and security of members of the Pakistani community in Venezuela,” the foreign office added.
