Musharraf hopeful on Siachen, Sir Creek

Ahead of Indo-Pak official-level talks on Siachen and Sir Creek, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the "intentions" on both sides were "very good" to resolve these "unnecessary irritants".

However, the Pakistan President suspected "mala fide" intention on the part of India in the construction of the Baglihar hydro-power project over Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir.

"On Siachen and Sir Creek, the intentions are very good on both sides and that is strongly reflected in the joint statement in New Delhi."

Both of these are actually troublesome on both sides and they are unnecessary irritants which can be resolved," he said in an interview to local newspaper, Daily Times.

Asked whether it was possible to demilitarise Siachen without demilitarising Kashmir, he said, "Yes, indeed, there was an agreement in 1989. And that agreement was based on relocation of Siachen. And in 1992 the relocation position was decided. And our secretary defence went from here to India for a signing ceremony.

"Two hours before the signing ceremony, they backtracked. I think it's a habit with them to backtrack at the last moment. And our secretary defence came back empty handed. Now I have told the Indian prime minister that this is clear decision, there is no problem. Let's decide on that."

His comments came ahead of a meeting of top defence officials of both the countries here on May 26 and 27 to discuss ways and means to break the logjam on withdrawing troops from the world's highest glacier Siachen.

The two sides would also hold two-day talks to resolve differences over Sir Creek, a small coastal strip off Gujarat coast, from May 27. They had conducted a joint survey of Sir Creek last year and are expected to review its results.

While hopeful on Siachen and Sir Creek, Musharraf spoke strongly of Pakistan's objections to the design of the Baglihar project.

"Now on the third issue, Baglihar, we have taken it to the World Bank. There is a mediator now, a Swiss gentleman (Prof Raymond Lafitte) who has been nominated. Let him decide. It is surprising that India should have dragged its feet so long on bilateral discussions that it pushed Pakistan to demand a neutral expert to adjudicate the issue," he said.

Musharraf said the 450 mw Baglihar project too was always a "do-able issue" between the countries.

Under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, "They (India) have a right to generate electricity from the river above our river. The issue is -- what is the size of the pond needed to generate the required electricity. The size of the pondage according to the treaty is to be based on design parameters," he said.

"The other issue is the operation element of the reservoir. If you work out the pondage on an operational basis, it comes to a much bagger figure than if you work it out on the basis of the design parameters," he said.