The Hindu : National : India conveys protest and praise

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 09, 2006

National

National

India conveys protest and praise

Diplomatic Correspondent

Displeasure over dam construction, appreciation for rescuing ship

NEW DELHI: The External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday protested against Pakistan's decision to construct the Bhasha dam on the Indus river, which will inundate parts of Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, it appreciated Pakistani action in rescuing an Indian ship.

The Government conveyed through diplomatic channels its protest against the proposed construction in territory that is part of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession to the country in 1947. "The reservoir of this dam, according to media reports, will inundate large parts of land, which falls in the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir," a statement said.

The Government also conveyed its appreciation of the humanitarian gesture shown by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency ship, MSS Rehmat, to an Indian ship, Dhow Fateh Salamat, on February 27. It had developed engine trouble about 170 nautical miles southwest of Karachi.

"MSS Rehmat provided food and drinking water to those stranded in the ship and towed it to the notional international maritime boundary, from where it was brought back to India by an Indian Coast Guard ship," the statement said.

Pakistan rejects contention

B. Muralidhar Reddy

reports Islamabad:

Pakistan has rejected India's contention that construction of the dam will inundate large parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Foreign Office statement said the dam was being built within the `water resources management policy' of Pakistan. Commenting on the Indian demarche, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said Jammu and Kashmir was a "disputed territory."

"Its disputed status was established by the United Nations Security Council resolutions 38, 39, 47, 51 (1948) and subsequent resolutions by the United Nation's Commission on India and Pakistan," the statement said.

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