Pakistan has decided to return to an international tribunal to settle a dispute with India over sharing waters of the Kishenganga and Ratle rivers.
Pakistan had initiated international proceedings on sharing Kishenganga’s water but lost the case in 2013 when the International Court of Arbitration “recognised” India’s rights over the river.
Pakistan’s latest decision to go to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), The Hague, was made public after talks between officials of both sides in Delhi failed to make progress.
Key Points
Pakistan’s decision to move the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the case is expected to erode the established mechanism of solving disputes on river water sharing which has served both sides successfully under the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.
Pakistan’s previous attempt at the PCA had backfired as the PCA had given a verdict defending India’s right to divert water of Kishenganga.
The PCA had also quashed Pakistan’s argument that India’s hydro electricity power plans on the Kishenganga reduced flow of water for Neelum Jhelum Hydro Electricity Project (NJHEP).
However experts in Pakistan are pointing out that unlike the previous arbitration at the PCA which lasted from 2010-2013, Pakistan will this time around take up the issue of “design” of the Kishenganga and Ratle river projects in Kashmir.
Current Affairs 17th July, 2016 Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, June, 2016 Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, May, 2016
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