English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest world news

Dawn: Pakistan lost diplomatic battle on Kishanganga dam

Published

on

Dawn: Pakistan lost diplomatic battle on Kishanganga dam

Islamabad receive no response for a meeting request by World Bank

Pakistan has virtually lost the diplomatic battle against India on Kishanganga dam controversy as it has missed opportunity to involve the World Bank, as it has not yet responded to Islamabad’s request for a meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to inaugurate the project within next few days.

Dawn, a leading Pakistani newspaper reports that Islamabad wants to send a high level delegation, headed by attorney general Asghar Ausaf Ali to Washington to share its concern with its President Jim Yong Kim about the dam.

A Pakistani journalist Anwar Iqbal based in Washington reports that the World Bank has accepted the Pakistani proposal but bank officials say that they are still trying to find an appropriate slot for the meeting because of chief’s busy schedule. Pakistan had hoped for the meeting in late April, when Ali was in New York for a UN meeting.

Read More: Pakistan asks World Bank to vouch India abiding IWT

The 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between the two countries recognizes the World Bank as an arbitrator in water disputes as it played key role in concluding the agreement.

On April 30, it was reported that PM Modi is set to inaugurate the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project in northern Kashmir’s Gurez in the first week of May. The 330MW power project, which has been contested by Pakistan, was commissioned in stages in recent months.

The run-of-the-river project includes a 37 meter high concrete rock fill dam across the Kishanganga river, located just before it flows across the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). It diverts the water to an underground power house through a 23.25 km tunnel.

Dawn Pakistan lost diplomatic battle on Kishanganga dam1

According to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), the project will generate 1713 million units per annum. Jammu and Kashmir would be provided with 12 percent of the power generated by the project.

The project features three power generating units of 110 MW each, which were commissioned in early April this year.  All the three units have been synchronized with the grid and project has achieved full generation capacity.

The Kishanganga dam is located in the Gurez valley of Bandipora disctirct, north of Wular Lake, the site of another project that Pakistan has attempted to stop.

Read More: No agreement yet between India and Pak on Indus Waters Treaty: World Bank

In early April, Pakistan’s energy ministry had sent a fresh communiqué to the  World Bank, urging to endure that India abides by the treaty that gave Pakistan control over the water of the Chenab and the Jheelam rivers.

Pakistan has complained that KIshanganga project affects its own Neelam Jheelam Hydropower Plant. Kishanganga is called the Jheelam on the other side of the LoC.

Observing the developments along with no response from World Bank for the meeting request, Dawn was left scratching its head on Monday, acknowledging that Islamabad has apparently missed the opportunity to involve the World Bank in the Kishanganga dam dispute before it becomes operational.

Latest world news

Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Published

on

Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

Published

on

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

Published

on

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com