Sunday, July 10 2005 15:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: A team of Pakistani water officials will visit this month the Baglihar hydropower project being built by India on the river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir, despite heavy floods in the river that runs across the Line of Control.

The visit of the Pakistan officials at the end of this month will be part of modalities agreed to by the World-Bank appointed Neutral Expert in consultation with India and Pakistan in Paris last month.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will preside over a meeting here on Thursday (July 7, 2005) next week to discuss aspects of the differences between Islamabad and New Delhi over Baglihar, as also the finalisation of the team to visit India, local daily Dawn reported today (July 10, 2005).

The meeting would also be attended by law and power Ministers, secretaries of foreign affairs and water and power, senior officials of Pakistan's permanent Indus Water Commission and Federal Flood Commission among others.

Sources said the Pakistani team due to visit Baglihar is likely to be led by Attorney General of Pakistan.

A senior Government official said that though the meeting called by Aziz was Baglihar-specific, he would also be updated on other water-related disputes with India, including the Kishanganga and Wullar barrage projects.

Pakistan is threatening to go to World Bank for the appointment of neutral expert on Kishenganga project also.

The World Bank, sponsor of Indus Water Treaty, had appointed on May 10 this year a Swiss national, Professor Raymond Lafitte, as neutral expert on the request of Pakistan.

Pakistan alleged that the Baglihar project violates the 1960 Treaty.