India and Pakistan attended a two-day conference in Vienna on September 20 and 21 convened by a neutral expert. The aim of this meeting was to come up with a resolution for the dispute between New Delhi and Islamabad on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.The neutral expert was appointed at the request of India under the aegis of the Indus Waters Treaty. Representatives from India and Pakistan attended this meeting, which took place at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Vienna, as per media reports.Ind-Pak meet in ViennaDepartment of Water Resources Secretary led Indias delegation for the meeting where the Senior Advocate Harish Salve KC attended the meeting as Indias Lead Counsel in this matter, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.The MEA, in a press release, stated, “Indias participation in this meeting is in line with Indias consistent, principled stand that as per the graded mechanism provided for in the Indus Waters Treaty, the Neutral Expert proceedings are the only valid proceedings at this juncture.”“A delegation from India, led by Secretary, Department of Water Resources, attended a meeting of the neutral expert proceedings in the Kishenganga and Ratle matter at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Vienna on September 20 and 21,” it said.Meeting of Neutral Expert proceedings on the Indus Waters Treaty:https://t.co/Tczs8jvC04 pic.twitter.com/MKLrUage84— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2023 The statement further said that India will work in a manner to support the resolution as the neutral expert proceedings are ongoing and expected to continue for some time. “India is committed to engaging in a manner that supports the resolution of issues in accordance with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty,” it said.Court of Abritration says it has “competence”Earlier in July, a court of arbitration (CoA) had ruled that it has “competence” to consider matters over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.India had also replied to this statement saying “We have seen a press release issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) mentioning that an illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration has ruled that it has the competence to consider matters concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.”The statement issued by MEA further added “Indias consistent and principled position has been that the constitution of the so-called Court of Arbitration is in contravention of the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. India cannot be compelled to recognize or participate in illegal and parallel proceedings not envisaged by the Treaty.”
