Saying that the water management of the Indus Basin was the joint responsibility of the two countries, Masood Khan called for a re-demonstration of "collective wisdom" the two countries had demonstrated in 1960 by agreeing to a water-sharing formula under the aegis of the World Bank. A similar demonstration, he added, could again be displayed and the situation handled "with prudence."
Answering anxious questions at his regular weekly news briefing here on Monday, the FO spokesman said that the government had decided in principle to meet such an eventuality by invoking the intervention of the World Bank under the Indus Basin Treaty, but it could also raise the issue at several bilateral occasions.
He said Indian External Affairs Minister, Kanwar Natwar Singh was expected to visit Pakistan to review the progress of the dialogues and also Islamabad expected Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to visit in the spring.
Besides, if the postponed summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) was held sooner it would be another opportunity for the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India to review the case. Apart from these occasions for intercessions and interventions, there was the secretary-level also. This platform, he said operated under the political leadership and could be as affective as the others.
Masood Khan told a questioner that the Pakistani team that returned from New Delhi would now report to the Prime Minister on the Baglihar talks giving the Cabinet a clear picture. In the light of the report, he added, the whole situation will be reviewed and decision about the next step taken.
Answering another question, the FO spokesman disclosed that even after reaching a stalemate, India wanted to resume the dialogue on the Dam after a short interval but Pakistan declined the offer saying that unless New Delhi agreed to suspend the construction.
He said besides a review of the situation by the technical experts of the Water and Power Ministry the question was also being examined by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
Masood Khan side-tracked a question if Pakistan will go raise the question before the International Court of Justice in case the intervention of the World Bank failed to resolve it by simply reverting to the clauses of the Indus Basin Treaty for reference of unsolved dispute to it.
He said that the dam was being built in the occupied territory of Kashmir on the River Chenab and bulk of the work was done during 2001 and 2002 when the tensions were high. The site was inspected by the Indus Water Commissioners and reported its damning effects to Islamabad.
Pakistan was preparing to go to the World Bank inviting its intervention when the Composite Dialogue between the two countries commenced at the specific request of the Indian Prime Minister and External Affairs. The matter was not referred to Bank and given another try at the bilateral level.
But now the political leadership has taken a decision in principle and it will be done when the legal processes were finalised, Masood Khan said.