After failing to agree on common names, India and Pakistan have asked the UN and other prominent international bodies to name neutral umpires for a court of arbitration to settle their dispute over Kishenganga hydel project in Jammu and Kashmir. Representatives of the two countries, who had met here in August, had decided to take the services of the United Nations Secretary General, Rector, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, and Lord Justice of England to decide on the three umpires, including the chairman.
Sources in the government told PTI on Thursday that India and Pakistan have written letters to the three personalities to name the umpires needed to settle their case in an international court of arbitration.
“The letters from the two sides have been dispatched and a response is awaited,” the sources said.
As per the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, once the process of arbitration is initiated by any of the two countries, the three umpires, including the chairman, have to be appointed within 60 days.
If the two countries fail to appoint umpires, the two parties prepare a draw of lots and request a “person” mentioned in the Treaty to select the umpire.
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Relative calm in Kashmir
Age CORRESPONDENT
Srinagar
Kashmir Valley was relatively calm on Thursday even as a strike called by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani closed marketplaces and only private cars and two-wheelers apart from official and security vehicles could be seen plying on the roads.
Also, curfew-like restrictions being enforced in central Srinagar and southern Anantnag city pushed residents indoors for another day. At places, Muslims offered, at least, two of the daily five prayers on roads and later chanted pro-freedom slogans. Hundreds of local policemen and CRPF personnel in full riot gear to enforce the restrictions did not intervene.
Minor clashes between slogan-chanting crowds and security personnel were reports from a couple of central Srinagar areas and northwestern town of Sopore.
Meanwhile, the Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mr Geelani has issued a new calendar of protests as part of its “Quit Jammu and Kashmir” campaign.