Arbitration on Kishanganga dam dispute WB’s responsibility: FO

The Foreign Office Thursday said it was the responsibility of the World Bank to form an arbitration court on the matter of Kishanganga dam. Addressing a weekly press briefing, FO Spokesman Dr Faisal said Pakistan will continue to agitate this issue with the World Bank. “For Pakistan, water is its jugular vein as we are largely an agrarian economy,” he said. “There is no doubt that it is World Bank’s responsibility to empanel the court of arbitration as envisaged in the Indus Waters Treaty,” he added. Earlier, the World Bank had asked Pakistan to accept India’s offer of appointing a ‘neutral expert’ on Kishanganga dam dispute instead of pursuing its stand of referring the dispute to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA). The spokesman also challenged India to let the United Nations carry out a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as per the United Nations (UN) resolutions to help ascertain whether Kashmiris want to join Pakistan or India. “Indian objections to Gilgilt-Baltistan (GB) Order are preposterous and without any legal basis. I challenge India to let the UN carry out a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as envisaged in the UNSC resolutions so that the Kashmiris are able to decide their future as per their aspirations,” he said, adding, “Pakistan is confident that Jammu and Kashmir would side with Pakistan.” “This is what generates fear in the hearts of the Indian establishment. The Kashmiris would never change their principled position despite grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces.” Responding to the threat of attacking Pakistan by BJP president, the spokesman said that Pakistan is ready to defend its borders. “Any Indian misadventure shall be given a befitting response. Pakistan wants to live in peace, however, if aggression is thrust upon us, it would be duly punished. Let there be no mistake. We expect maturity from India in this regard.” The spokesman also condemned continued and unabated atrocities by the Indian occupation forces in Kashmir. “During last week, the Indian forces martyred seven innocent Kashmiris. On May 31, the Indian occupation forces martyred two innocent Kashmiris in a fake operation in Kupwara district. After the use of human shields, bullets and pellets, India is now using new inhuman methods of crushing Kashmiri youth under heavy vehicles,” he said. “It is highly condemnable that Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ran a jeep over 24-year-old Kaiser Ahmad during protests after Friday prayers, who succumbed to injuries in Nowhatta area of Srinagar,” he said, and condemned the unlawful arrest and detention of Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam Butt, Nayeem Khan, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi, Fehmida Sofi and hundreds of Hurriyat leaders and activists. Replying to a question, he said that minorities residing in India were being persecuted which was totally contrary to India’s self-portrayal of a secular state. About India’s missile test, the spokesman said that Indian arms build-up has pushed the region into a vicious arms race. “India’s hegemonic designs are a cause of serious concern not only to Pakistan but also to the entire region. Indian thirst for becoming a regional hegemon is casting a dark shadow on South Asia but Pakistan’s forces are ready to defend its borders against any threat,” he said. The spokesman said the president will visit China on June 9 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao, where he will also meet his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping to discuss all issues of mutual concern. “Bilateral political matters, progress of CPEC projects, economic and commercial relations, defence relations and other areas of bilateral relations will be discussed,” he said, adding the president will also have sideline meetings with the leadership of SCO member countries. The spokesman said that Pakistan and Russia are strong partners in the field of energy and the two countries have concluded various proposals in the energy sector, including construction of North-South Gas Pipeline, import of LNG from Russia, installation of air mix plant, establishing a 600MW combined cycle power plant, etc. Regarding a recent report on Pakistan’s minorities, he said, “We do not acknowledge reports from any country or international organization with unidentified sources. Constitution of Pakistan protects minorities and dubs them as honourable citizens of Pakistan.” Published in Daily Times, June 8th 2018.