Row over J&K power project

India and Pakistan today failed to achieve any breakthrough after four days of hectic parleys here to resolve their differences on the Kishanganga hydro power project in Jammu and Kashmir and decided to hold another round of talks on the issue later this month.

"We made headway but could not make a breakthrough. It will be our endeavour to examine and resolve the issue within the cooperative framework of the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, as quickly as possible," Indus Commissioner DK Mehta, who led the Indian delegation at the talks, said.

Syed Jamat Ali Shah, the Indus Water Commissioner who led the Pakistani side, said, "we could not arrive at a solution but both sides stressed on a resolution to the issue before February 28".

Both sides exchanged records and signed minutes of the meeting after marathon talks, that began yesterday afternoon and went on till the wee hours of today, got entwined on the twin issues of plant design and inter-tributary transfer of water.

Mehta said during the talks, which were extended by two days, "clarification on certain aspects of design and better understanding of each other's perception has been reached, especially on relevance of data and information sought".

Shah said at their first meeting at lahore last November, both sides had agreed to sort out their differences within three months. Therefore it was decided to hold the talks before February 28 either in Islamabad or Lahore.