Bilateral

Islamabad: Pakistan today threatened to take India to the court of arbitration or to neutral experts if New Delhi continued to "violate" the Indus treaty by not releasing its share of water from the Chenab river. India should release Pakistan's share of river waters as it has documentary evidence that its due share of water had been "stolen" from the Chenab river, Pakistan Indus Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali said.

"India should concede violations of the Indus Waters Treaty. If they do not accept the violations in the Treaty, then it would be a big setback to Treaty (and give the impression) that India is not serious about implementing the Treaty," Shah told to an Indian news channel. If India continues the alleged violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan would have the option to take the issue to the court of arbitration or to neutral experts, he said. The decision of neutral experts would be acceptable to Pakistan, he added.

Pakistani officials have earlier accused India of causing "colossal losses" to crops while storing water in the Baglihar dam in violation of the Indus Water Treaty, a charge denied by New Delhi. Islamabad had also sought compensation. Shah said India's Indus Water Commissioner had, in a recent letter, denied that the country had violated the Treaty. The official also said the water shortage was due to the change of weather. (PTI)