Kishenganga hydel project: Pakistan holds back from pressing stay order
The ongoing construction activities at the 330 MW Kishenganga hydel project in Jammu and Kashmir will continue.
In a temporary relief to New Delhi, the ongoing construction activities at the 330 MW Kishenganga hydel project in Jammu and Kashmir will continue as Pakistan did not press for a stay on the activities during the first hearing of the international court of arbitration in Hague on Friday, Indian Express reported on Saturday.
The move came as a surprise to India given that Pakistan had initially petitioned for a stay order as an interim measure till the case adjudicated by the seven-member international court of arbitration was over. In fact, India had anticipated Pakistan’s move to seek a stay on the ongoing activities on the site and done its homework accordingly. New Delhi, on its part, was wary of Islamabad’s intention fearing that it may choose to drag the case and delay the Kishenganga project indefinitely once it gets a stay order.
However, Pakistan’s move has left India guessing over the former’s future course of action. The international court of arbitration bench, headed by Justice Stephen M Schwebel, is now learnt to have asked Pakistan to submit its memorial (affidavit) making its case to the court. Subsequently, India, sources said, will have to submit its counter-memorial.
After the completion of the court’s proceedings, the 10-member Indian delegation was learnt to have gone into a huddle to assess Pakistan’s next move and chart out future strategy.
The Indian delegation also included Indus Commissioner G Aranganathan and his deputy Darpan Talwar and is being supported by two senior officials from the ministry of external affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2011.
The move came as a surprise to India given that Pakistan had initially petitioned for a stay order as an interim measure till the case adjudicated by the seven-member international court of arbitration was over. In fact, India had anticipated Pakistan’s move to seek a stay on the ongoing activities on the site and done its homework accordingly. New Delhi, on its part, was wary of Islamabad’s intention fearing that it may choose to drag the case and delay the Kishenganga project indefinitely once it gets a stay order.
However, Pakistan’s move has left India guessing over the former’s future course of action. The international court of arbitration bench, headed by Justice Stephen M Schwebel, is now learnt to have asked Pakistan to submit its memorial (affidavit) making its case to the court. Subsequently, India, sources said, will have to submit its counter-memorial.
After the completion of the court’s proceedings, the 10-member Indian delegation was learnt to have gone into a huddle to assess Pakistan’s next move and chart out future strategy.
The Indian delegation also included Indus Commissioner G Aranganathan and his deputy Darpan Talwar and is being supported by two senior officials from the ministry of external affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2011.