Indo-Pak conference ‘Water is Life’ in Delhi by A correspondent


Indo-Pak conference ‘Water is Life’ in Delhi by A correspondent

New Delhi, July 28: A two-day Indo-Pak conference on water issues, titled ‘Water is Life’, is set to kick off in New Delhi on July 29-30, 2010.

The conference, bringing together internationally-recognised experts on issues related to water in the region, has been organised by the Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation, New Delhi in collaboration with Aman ki Asha, a joint peace initiative of the Jang Group of Pakistan and the Times of India Group.

The Conference is structured around a series of closed-door sessions featuring presentations and open discussions. It focuses on attempting to resolve the acrimonious water dispute between India and Pakistan that some analysts warn may threaten to overshadow even the Kashmir dispute if allowed to spiral.

Delegates are expected to provide and overview of the current dispute, sift through rhetoric and fact, and view all allegations in relation to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Beyond water-sharing, the discussion may lead into issues relating to environmental and ecological challenges in the Himalayan region, as well as cooperation in watershed management.

Delegates include Indian experts Ramaswamy Iyer, R. Rangachari, Prof. Bandyopadhayay, and B. G. Verghese, and Pakistani experts Khalid Mohtadullah, Zaigham Habib, Rafay Alam, Ayub Qutub and Suleman Najib Khan, as well as Jang Group Director Editorial Management M. Suleman and Jang Group Editor Special Projects Beena Sarwar. Javid Shahmiri and Zubair Ahmad Dar will provide perspectives from Kashmir.

Coincidentally, an Indo-Pak meeting of water commissioners also starts in Delhi tomorrow – focusing on the contentious Kishenganga dam issue.

Click here to view Participants Profiles




Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *