News Analysis India

Tag: India pakistan

  • India issues notice to Pakistan seeking modification to Indus Waters Treaty

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India has issued a notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of September 1960 following Islamabad’s “intransigence” on its implementation, government sources said on Friday.

    The notice was sent on January 25 through respective commissioners for Indus waters, they said.

    The sources said India has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in implementing the IWT in letter and spirit.

    “However, Pakistan’s actions have adversely impinged on the provisions of IWT and their implementation, and forced India to issue an appropriate notice for modification of the pact,” said a source.

    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.

    In 2015, Pakistan requested for appointment of a neutral expert to examine its technical objections to India’s Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).

    In 2016, Pakistan unilaterally retracted this request and proposed that a Court of Arbitration adjudicate on its objections, the sources said.

    ‘They said this unilateral action by Pakistan is in contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by Article IX of the IWT.

    Accordingly, India made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert.

    “The initiation of two simultaneous processes on the same questions and the potential of their inconsistent or contradictory outcomes creates an unprecedented and legally untenable situation, which risks endangering the IWT itself,” the source said.

    “The World Bank acknowledged this itself in 2016, and took a decision to ‘pause’ the initiation of two parallel processes and request India and Pakistan to seek an amicable way out,” it said.

    The sources said that despite repeated efforts by India to find a mutually agreeable way forward, Pakistan refused to discuss the issue during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022 At Pakistan’s continuing insistence, the World Bank has recently initiated actions on both the neutral expert and Court of Arbitration processes, they said.

    The sources added that such parallel consideration of the same issues is not covered under any provision of IWT.

    “Faced with such violation of IWT provisions, India has been compelled to issue notice of modification,” the source cited above said.

    NEW DELHI: India has issued a notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of September 1960 following Islamabad’s “intransigence” on its implementation, government sources said on Friday.

    The notice was sent on January 25 through respective commissioners for Indus waters, they said.

    The sources said India has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in implementing the IWT in letter and spirit.

    “However, Pakistan’s actions have adversely impinged on the provisions of IWT and their implementation, and forced India to issue an appropriate notice for modification of the pact,” said a source.

    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.

    In 2015, Pakistan requested for appointment of a neutral expert to examine its technical objections to India’s Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).

    In 2016, Pakistan unilaterally retracted this request and proposed that a Court of Arbitration adjudicate on its objections, the sources said.

    ‘They said this unilateral action by Pakistan is in contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by Article IX of the IWT.

    Accordingly, India made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert.

    “The initiation of two simultaneous processes on the same questions and the potential of their inconsistent or contradictory outcomes creates an unprecedented and legally untenable situation, which risks endangering the IWT itself,” the source said.

    “The World Bank acknowledged this itself in 2016, and took a decision to ‘pause’ the initiation of two parallel processes and request India and Pakistan to seek an amicable way out,” it said.

    The sources said that despite repeated efforts by India to find a mutually agreeable way forward, Pakistan refused to discuss the issue during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022 At Pakistan’s continuing insistence, the World Bank has recently initiated actions on both the neutral expert and Court of Arbitration processes, they said.

    The sources added that such parallel consideration of the same issues is not covered under any provision of IWT.

    “Faced with such violation of IWT provisions, India has been compelled to issue notice of modification,” the source cited above said.

  • 75 years of tensions in India-Pakistan relations

    By AFP

    NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan, born 75 years ago out of the bloody division of the British Raj, are deeply troubled neighbours, at odds over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

    Here are key dates in the fraught relations of the nuclear-armed rivals:

    1947: Bloody partition

    Overnight on August 14-15, 1947, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, brings the curtain down on two centuries of British rule. The Indian sub-continent is divided into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

    A poorly prepared partition throws life into disarray, displacing some 15 million and unleashing sectarian bloodshed that kills possibly more than a million people.

    1949: Kashmir divided

    Late in 1947, war breaks out between the two neighbours over Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region in the Himalayas.

    A UN-backed, 770-kilometre (478-mile) ceasefire line in January 1949 becomes a de facto frontier dividing the territory, now known as the Line of Control and heavily militarised on both sides.

    Some 37 per cent of the territory is administered by Pakistan and 63 per cent by India, with both claiming it in full.

    1965-72: Second war

    Pakistan launches a war in August-September 1965 against India for control of Kashmir. It ends inconclusively seven weeks later after a ceasefire brokered by the Soviet Union.

    1971: Bangladesh is born

    The neighbours fight a third war in 1971, over Islamabad’s rule in then East Pakistan, with New Delhi supporting Bengali nationalists seeking independence for what would in March 1971 become Bangladesh. Three million people die in the short war.

    1974: Marking nuclear territory

    India detonates its first atomic device in 1974, while Pakistan’s first public test will not come until May 1998. India carries out five tests that year and Pakistan six. Respectively the world’s sixth and seventh nuclear powers, they stoke global concern and sanctions.

    1989-90: Rebellion

    An uprising breaks out in Kashmir against New Delhi’s rule in 1989, and thousands of fighters and civilians are killed in the following years as battles between security forces and Kashmiri militants roil the region.

    Widespread human rights abuses are documented on both sides of the conflict as the insurgency takes hold.

    Thousands of Kashmiri Hindus flee to other parts of India from 1990 fearing reprisal attacks.

    1999-2003: Kargil conflict

    In 1999, Pakistan-backed militants cross the disputed Kashmir border, seizing Indian military posts in the icy heights of the Kargil mountains. Indian troops push the intruders back, ending the 10-week conflict, which costs 1,000 lives on both sides.

    The battle ends under pressure from the United States.

    A series of attacks in 2001 and 2002, which India blames on Pakistani militants, leads to a new mobilisation of troops on both sides.

    A ceasefire is declared along the frontier in 2003, but a peace process launched the following year ends inconclusively.

    2008-2016: Mumbai attacks

    In November 2008, Islamist gunmen attack the Indian city of Mumbai and kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan’s intelligence service for the assault and suspends peace talks.

    Contacts resume in 2011, but the situation is marred by sporadic fighting.

    Indian troops stage cross-border raids in Kashmir against separatist positions.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a surprise visit in December 2015 to Pakistan.

    2019-22: Crackdown

    India vows retaliation after 41 paramilitary members are killed in a 2019 suicide attack in Kashmir claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group.

    Tit-for-tat air strikes between the two nations take them to the brink of war.

    Later that year, India suddenly revokes Kashmir’s limited autonomy under the constitution, detaining thousands of political opponents in the territory.

    Authorities impose what becomes the world’s longest internet shutdown and troops are sent to reinforce the estimated half a million security forces already stationed there.

    Tens of thousands of people, mainly civilians, have been killed since 1990 in the insurgency.

    NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan, born 75 years ago out of the bloody division of the British Raj, are deeply troubled neighbours, at odds over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

    Here are key dates in the fraught relations of the nuclear-armed rivals:

    1947: Bloody partition

    Overnight on August 14-15, 1947, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, brings the curtain down on two centuries of British rule. The Indian sub-continent is divided into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

    A poorly prepared partition throws life into disarray, displacing some 15 million and unleashing sectarian bloodshed that kills possibly more than a million people.

    1949: Kashmir divided

    Late in 1947, war breaks out between the two neighbours over Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region in the Himalayas.

    A UN-backed, 770-kilometre (478-mile) ceasefire line in January 1949 becomes a de facto frontier dividing the territory, now known as the Line of Control and heavily militarised on both sides.

    Some 37 per cent of the territory is administered by Pakistan and 63 per cent by India, with both claiming it in full.

    1965-72: Second war

    Pakistan launches a war in August-September 1965 against India for control of Kashmir. It ends inconclusively seven weeks later after a ceasefire brokered by the Soviet Union.

    1971: Bangladesh is born

    The neighbours fight a third war in 1971, over Islamabad’s rule in then East Pakistan, with New Delhi supporting Bengali nationalists seeking independence for what would in March 1971 become Bangladesh. Three million people die in the short war.

    1974: Marking nuclear territory

    India detonates its first atomic device in 1974, while Pakistan’s first public test will not come until May 1998. India carries out five tests that year and Pakistan six. Respectively the world’s sixth and seventh nuclear powers, they stoke global concern and sanctions.

    1989-90: Rebellion

    An uprising breaks out in Kashmir against New Delhi’s rule in 1989, and thousands of fighters and civilians are killed in the following years as battles between security forces and Kashmiri militants roil the region.

    Widespread human rights abuses are documented on both sides of the conflict as the insurgency takes hold.

    Thousands of Kashmiri Hindus flee to other parts of India from 1990 fearing reprisal attacks.

    1999-2003: Kargil conflict

    In 1999, Pakistan-backed militants cross the disputed Kashmir border, seizing Indian military posts in the icy heights of the Kargil mountains. Indian troops push the intruders back, ending the 10-week conflict, which costs 1,000 lives on both sides.

    The battle ends under pressure from the United States.

    A series of attacks in 2001 and 2002, which India blames on Pakistani militants, leads to a new mobilisation of troops on both sides.

    A ceasefire is declared along the frontier in 2003, but a peace process launched the following year ends inconclusively.

    2008-2016: Mumbai attacks

    In November 2008, Islamist gunmen attack the Indian city of Mumbai and kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan’s intelligence service for the assault and suspends peace talks.

    Contacts resume in 2011, but the situation is marred by sporadic fighting.

    Indian troops stage cross-border raids in Kashmir against separatist positions.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a surprise visit in December 2015 to Pakistan.

    2019-22: Crackdown

    India vows retaliation after 41 paramilitary members are killed in a 2019 suicide attack in Kashmir claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group.

    Tit-for-tat air strikes between the two nations take them to the brink of war.

    Later that year, India suddenly revokes Kashmir’s limited autonomy under the constitution, detaining thousands of political opponents in the territory.

    Authorities impose what becomes the world’s longest internet shutdown and troops are sent to reinforce the estimated half a million security forces already stationed there.

    Tens of thousands of people, mainly civilians, have been killed since 1990 in the insurgency.

  • India requests Pakistan to let GoFirst airline’s Srinagar-Sharjah flight use its airspace 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India has requested Pakistan to grant overflight clearance to GoFirst airline’s Srinagar-Sharjah flight keeping in mind the larger interest of common people who have booked tickets for the route, government officials said on Thursday.

    Pakistan on Tuesday did not allow the Srinagar-Sharjah flight to use its airspace, forcing it to take a longer route and fly over Gujarat to reach its destination in the UAE, they mentioned.

    Go First, previously known as GoAir, had started direct flights between Srinagar and Sharjah from October 23 and the service was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the Valley last month.

    “Pakistani authorities had granted overflight clearance to GoFirst flights to operate the Srinagar-Sharjah sector on October 23rd, 24th, 26th and 28th,” a source said.

    Sources said subsequently, Pakistan put the clearance for the same flight on hold for the period from October 31 to November 30.

    “This matter was promptly taken up with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and we have requested Pakistan to grant overflight clearance for this flight in the larger interest of the common people who have booked tickets on this route,” the source said.

    The officials said Pakistan on Tuesday did not allow the flight to pass through its airspace, and therefore, the service had to take a longer route, going over Gujarat, adding around 40 minutes to the flight time on the onward journey as well as the return journey.

    Longer route means higher fuel consumption, which may push the airline to increase the ticket prices or turn this non-stop service to one-stop service.

    Therefore, the officials said that India has requested Pakistan to grant the overflight clearance to this flight keeping in mind the larger interest of common people who have booked the tickets on this service.

    The Pakistani government is yet to give any specific reason for refusing the permission to the flight, officials said. They said the flight, which operates four times a week, did not face any issue when it used Pakistan airspace between October 23 and October 31.

    Go First has not issued any statement or comment on this matter as yet.

    The airline’s Srinagar-Sharjah-Srinagar service is the first service between Jammu and Kashmir and the UAE after 11 years.

    Air India Express had started a Srinagar-Dubai flight in February 2009 but it was discontinued after some time due to low demand.

    Reacting to Pakistan’s action, former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday tweeted “very unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010.

    I had hoped that @GoFirstairways being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn’t to be.”

    Blaming the Centre, PDP chief and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday tweeted, “Puzzling that GoI didn’t even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar. Only PR extravaganza without any groundwork.”

    Inaugurating the flight, Shah had said the commencement of Srinagar-Sharjah services would boost tourism.

    “There are many people from Srinagar and Jammu who are settled in the Gulf countries. There are many tourists who want to come from the Gulf countries to Jammu and Kashmir. The tourism of J-K is going to get a big boost with the commencement of Srinagar-Sharjah flights,” he added.

    Officials said the Srinagar-Sharjah flight takes around 3 hours and 40 minutes, while the return flight takes approximately 3 hours to reach the capital of Jammu and Kashmir if Pakistan airspace is used.

    With Islamabad refusing to allow the flight through its airspace, it adds around 40 minutes time during the onward journey as well as during the return journey, raising fuel and ticket costs, they mentioned.

    The Pakistan government, however, allowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special flight to Italy to use its airspace on Friday to attend the G20 summit. His return flight from Italy was also allowed to use the Pakistan airspace on Wednesday, officials said.

  • Told Pakistan action against terrorism will be taken on their side of border if needed: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India has clearly told Pakistan that action against terrorism will be taken not only on this side of the border but also on their side if needed, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

    “People used to say that if Article 370 is abolished, then the entire Kashmir will burn. All in all, Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful except for a few incidents,” he said at an event here.

    Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters.

    The Centre had on August 5, 2019 abolished Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

    Singh said, “It is true that our enemy forces are fidgety. I can say with surety that terrorists’ confidence has been broken in Kashmir Valley.”

    Since October 11, the Indian Army is conducting a massive search operation to track down hiding terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

    Pakistan was not able to gather any support on the topic of Kashmir even after trying a lot, the minister said.

    “Modiji has redesigned and redefined India’s attitude against terrorism. Remember, what a soft attitude was maintained against terrorists during earlier governments,” Singh told the gathering.

    If there were terrorist incidents, there was talk of giving “safe passage” to them, there used to be talk of playing or not playing matches against Pakistan, he said.

    “Now the situation has changed. Our government has said clearly that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand. For the last few years, we have stopped having any talks with Pakistan,” the minister mentioned.

    “Now we don’t talk about playing or not playing (cricket) matches. Instead, we have stated it clearly that action against terrorism will be taken — on this side of the border as well as on the other side of the border if needed,” he added.

  • Indus Commissioners of India, Pakistan to meet in New Delhi on March 23-24

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan will meet here on March 23 and 24 to discuss a host of issues, including Islamabad’s concerns about the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab River, a top official said on Sunday.

    This will be the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission.

    Under the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, both the commissioners are required to meet at least once a year alternately in India and Pakistan.

    “The meeting will take place in New Delhi on March 23-24,” P K Saxena, India’s Indus Commissioner, told PTI.

    This will also be the first meeting between the two commissioners after the nullification of special provisions under Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

    The state was later carved into two union territories — Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

    Since then, India has cleared several hydropower projects in Ladakh.

    They are Durbuk Shyok (19 MW), Shankoo (18.5 MW), Nimu Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW), Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) for Leh, while Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) have been cleared for Kargil.

    India had conveyed the projects to Pakistan and the issue is expected to come for discussion during the meeting.

    Saxena said that Pakistan’s concerns about the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab river will also be discussed.

    The last year’s meeting, which was earlier scheduled to be held in New Delhi in March 2020, was cancelled for the first time since the signing of the Treaty, in view of the pandemic situation.

    India in July 2020 had proposed to Pakistan that the meeting to discuss pending issues pertaining to the Indus Water Treaty be held virtually in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but Pakistan insisted on holding the talks at the Attari check post.

    However, India said it was not conducive to hold the meeting at the Attari Joint Check Post due to the pandemic.

    With the improvement in the situation, this mandatory meeting is being held.

    All COVID-related protocols will be followed, Saxena said. The meeting will take place after a gap of nearly two-and-half years.

    The last meeting took place in Lahore in August 2018.

    The Indian delegation will be led by Saxena with his advisors from the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

    The Pakistani delegation will be led by Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters and his eight advisors.

    Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — amounting to around 33 million acre-feet annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use and the waters of western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — amounting to around 135 MAF annually largely for Pakistan.

    Under the Treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.

    It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns about the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers.

    “India is committed towards full utilisation of its rights under the Treaty and believes in an amicable solution of issues through discussion,” Saxena said.