ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal on Friday said the World Bank had assured Pakistan that it would make utmost efforts to resolve the Kishanganga and Rattle dams issues within the parameters of Indus Basin Treaty.
“Pakistan has effectively been raising the issue of Kishanganga project to resolve it according to the dispute resolution mechanism available in the Indus Water Treaty (IWT),” he said at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
He said water issues could lead to a very dangerous situation; hence, it was necessary to resolve such problems according to the IWT spirit.
The spokesman said that Pakistan believed that inauguration of Kishanganga dam by India without resolution of the disputes was violation of the treaty.
Read More: Controversial Kishanganga dam: Pakistan approaches World Bank to protect water rights
He said security related US assistance served the mutual interest of stability in the region.
Dr Faisal said Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations in FATA and clearing of its territory from all sorts of terrorist networks was a testimony that the US assistance for capacity building of Pakistan’s law enforcement and security agencies had helped achieve the share objectives of peace and stability in the region.
He, however, said the security related US assistance, including the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) reimbursement to Pakistan had been suspended earlier this year.
“US assistance on civilian economic side is continuing with both sides engaged in undertaking collaborative projects and programs,” he said.
To a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan wanted to have peaceful neighborhood for socio-economic development of the people of the region. He, however, said Pakistan will not be oblivious to the imperative of safeguarding its national security.
He said UNMOGIP should be allowed to perform its duty on Indian side of the Line of Control to check human rights violations by New Delhi in Occupied Kashmir.
Faisal also said continued denial of visas to Pakistani artists and authors hampered people-to-people contacts, which were essential prerequisite for promoting peace and tolerance in the region.
He said maltreatment of minorities, especially Muslims, was regrettable.
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