ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Thursday rejected reports that India wants Pakistan to seek NOC for construction of water reservoirs in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan including Diamer-Basha Dam.
“Pakistan doesn’t need any NOC from India regarding construction of dams,” Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan told the weekly press briefing.
Under the Indus Water Treaty, India was however under an obligation to inform Pakistan if it wanted to carry out any water-related project on rivers allocated for Pakistan, he said.
The spokesman said Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf would visit India on Saturday on a private trip to the shrine of saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer Sharif, but said he was unaware about his official engagement, if any.
When his attention was drawn to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s allegations that Pakistan was not doing enough against terrorism, he said Pakistan condemns terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations. It is a common threat and requires a common strategy and cooperation among all countries of the region, he added.
About Mumbai attacks, Moazzam said Pakistan has repeatedly told India to provide evidence that could stand scrutiny in the court of law, as mere statements are not enough. The spokesman said Pakistan wants resolution of all issues with India through dialogue including the recent incident on the Line of Control. He said Pakistan has even gone to the extent of offering investigations under the mechanism of UN.
Answering a question about granting (most favoured nation) MFN status to India, the spokesman said that both the countries have to complete the process at the earliest. He added that the cabinet has approved granting MFN to India and the government was resolute in fulfilling its commitment.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/08-Mar-2013/no-browbeating-pakistan-on-iran-gasline
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