Pakistan committed to implementing Indus Waters Treaty, expects same from India: FO

• All issues pertaining to Indus Waters Treaty can be discussed: FO
• Says two nations have mechanism of Indus Water Commissioners.
• Terms polls in IIOJK farcical with no legal value in international law.

The government in Islamabad has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and expects India to also comply with its provisions.

The remark was made by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while responding to the queries of media persons regarding India’s notice seeking reassessment of the treaty at her weekly news briefing on Thursday.

“Pakistan considers the Indus Waters Treaty an important one and hopes that India will also comply with its provisions,” she said.

Baloch pointed out that the two countries have a mechanism of Indus Water Commissioners and all issues pertaining to this treaty can be discussed in it.   

The spokesperson described the election exercise in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as farcical, reminding India that given the internationally recognised disputed status of the disputed region, any so-called elections conducted in pursuance of the Indian constitution carries no legal value in the eyes of international law.

She said the relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly state that the final disposition of the IIOJK dispute will be made in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people expressed through a UN-supervised plebiscite.

Any other process, cannot, therefore, serve as a substitute to the grant of the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people, she added.

Responding to a question, the foreign office spokesperson rejected the acting Afghan consul general’s explanation for not standing during the Pakistani national anthem at an event in Peshawar, terming the action a violation of diplomatic norms, Radio Pakistan reported.

She said Pakistan considers the act of the Afghan official reprehensible, saying this has hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan.

The FO spox further stated that Pakistan has conveyed its strong protest to the Afghan authorities on the matter.  She said decisions will be taken after due internal deliberations and the conclusion of talks with the Afghan government. She said Pakistan reserves the right to take action by diplomatic norms and practices.