The Indus Water commissioners of India and Pakistan will be meeting on March 23-24 in New Delhi, in first such talks after more than two and a half years. Under the Indus Water Treaty, the commissioners are required to meet annually mandatorily to discuss issues. The last such meet happened in Lahore in August 2018.
The Indian side will be led by Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters Pradeep Kumar Saxena, while the Pakistan side will be led by its Indus Water commissioner Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah. Last year saw no talks for the first time since the treaty came into effect in 1960 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The year is counted as the period from April 1 to March 31.
Speaking to WION, Pradeep Saxena said, “We are committed towards full utilisation of India’s rights under the Treaty and believe in amicable solution of issues through discussion.”
Confirming that during the meeting, Pakistan’s objections to the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab…