India Issues Notice To Pak Seeking Modification Of Indus Water Treaty: Sources

This process would also update IWT to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 62 years.New Delhi: India has today issued a notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of September 1960 following Pakistani “intransigence” on its implementation, sources said, adding that the notice was conveyed to the neighbouring nation on January 25 through the Commissioners for Indus Water as per provisions of the treaty.The objective of the notice for modification is to provide Pakistan an opportunity to enter into intergovernmental negotiations within 90 days to rectify the material breach of IWT. This process would also update IWT to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 62 years.The action was necessiated as Pakistan has refused to discuss and resolve the issue of India’s Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs) for the last five years despite India’s efforts, sources said.Pakistan had in 2015 sought a neutral expert to examine its technical objections to India’s Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).However, it withdrew unilaterally the next year and proposed that a Court of Arbitration adjudicate on its objections. Two simultaneous processes are in contravention of graded mechanism of dispute settlement. India then made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert.India and Pakistan signed the treaty in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory of the pact.The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding use of waters of a number of rivers.



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