Close on the heels of India-China talks on transborder river water cooperation in Hangzhou, the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) under Indus Water Treaty (IWT), 1960, is set to begin. The two delegations will be meeting in the backdrop of increased tensions due to ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and International Border.

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India is currently building the 330-MW Kishanganga project and 850-MW Ratle project in J&K, which Pakistan has opposed. Just last week, the National Hydropower Corporation Ltd commissioned the 110 MW unit 1 of Kishanganga project, being built on Kishanganga river, a tributary of Jhelum and the other two units will be commissioned soon.

Apart from discussing issues pertaining to water data sharing, administrative matters and construction of hydro-electric projects, there are requests from Pakistan side to visit the under-construction Kishanganga hydro-electric project.

"The treaty provides both commissioners to visit sites, so generally when we meet, there are requests. The treaty does not impose any time restrictions on any side, sometimes it depends on several factors such as weather conditions, security reasons," the source added.