Indo-Pak talks on Wullar barrage fail

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan on Friday failed to achieve a breakthrough in resolving a longstanding dispute over New Delhi's plans to build a barrage on Wullar Lake in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the end of the two-day talks he held with his Pakistani counterpart Ashfaq Mahmood, Water Secretary J Hari Narayan acknowledged that the stalemate continued.

"Expect a breakthrough when there is a perfect understanding between both sides," he said addressing the media along with Mahmood.

Narayan was replying to a question why the two sides have not been able to break the deadlock despite 11 rounds of talks.

A joint statement issued after the talks said "the two sides exchanged views on the project and had better understanding of each other's views. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960."

"The two countries agreed to continue discussions during the next round of the Composite Dialogue with a view to resolving the issue in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty," it said.

The Wullar barrage is one of the eight issues being discussed under the Composite Dialogue (CD) process between Pakistan and India. The dispute over Wullar Barrage also known as Tulbul navigation project arose when Pakistan objected to India's proposal to build a barrage on river Jhelum at the mouth of Wullar near Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir in 1984.