Pak cites US report as validation of its concerns over dam-building by India

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has cited a US Senate report “Avoiding water wars in South and Central Asia”, released on February 22, as vindication of its stance that building of dams by India on the western rivers was in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Responding to a question about the US Senate report that makes a reference how the dams being built by India in the Kashmir region will limit supply of water to Pakistan “at crucial moments”, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said that it validated the country’s concerns.

“The report only substantiates Pakistan’s concerns at the building of dams by India on the western rivers in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty,” Geo TV quoted Janjua, as saying.

Released by US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry, the report warns: “Studies show that no single dam along the waters controlled by the Indus Waters Treaty will affect Pakistan’s access to water, (but) the cumulative effect of these projects could give India the ability to store enough water to limit the supply to Pakistan at crucial moments in the growing season”.

Janjua said that Pakistan “has conveyed its concerns to India through the Office of Permanent Indus Commission on various projects being built by India which the Pakistan Indus Commission considers are not in conformity with the terms of the treaty.”

“These concerns are required to be addressed in a sincere, forthwith and result-oriented manner,” the spokesperson added. (ANI)