Zardari wants Indian PM to deliver on water dispute 'promise'

Islamabad, Oct 29 (PTI) Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari Wednesday said he would ask Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to deliver on his promise to settle a row over
the sharing of the waters of the Chenab river in line with the
Indus Waters Treaty.

Zardari said he would write a letter to Singh to
remind him of the promise the latter had made about resolving
"the issue of reduced inflow of water in river Chenab at
Marrala headworks" in Pakistan in accordance with the treaty
signed in 1960, said a statement issued by the presidency.

The President made the remarks during a briefing on
the construction of the Baglihar dam in India and the reported
diversion of Pakistan's share of river waters, which has
"adversely" affected agriculture and the economy, the
statement said.

Singh had assured Zardari that India would address
Pakistan's concerns over the sharing of river waters during a
meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New
York last month. Zardari had also raised the water-sharing
dispute with Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal during a
meeting on Monday.

Zardari was briefed on the Baglihar dam by Pakistan's
Indus Waters Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah, who recently
visited India to inspect the project. The briefing was also
attended by Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf,
Kamal Majidullah, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for
Water Resources, and other senior officials.

The President said letters should also be written to
Muslim countries, the members of the Friends of Pakistan forum
and Britain to draw their attention to the issue and the need
to resolve the matter amicably in accordance with the treaty
signed by the two countries.

Pakistan should vigorously pursue its case for
compensation in the form of water from India for the loss of
waters from the Chenab, Zardari said. PTI RHL
PMR