Q: Sir, regarding the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty, is India now going to engage in direct discussions with Pakistan. Like the World Bank has said, are we hopeful of a solution, of resolving this issue by January 2017?
Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the external affairs ministry: India has always believed that the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which includes the redressal of technical questions and differences, should be done bilaterally between India and Pakistan. There are examples available where such matters had been successfully resolved bilaterally within the Permanent Indus Commission. One example is the resolution of the height of the freeboard for Kishanganga, or that between the two governments, as seen in the Salal Hydro Electric Project in 1978.
Given the will to address these matters through the appropriate mechanisms provided for in the Indus Waters Treaty, there is no reason why the technical design parameters on which Pakistan has raised objections cannot be sorted out by professional, technical experts from both sides.
We had advised the World Bank not to rush into initiating two parallel processes simultaneously and to hold more consultations. It is a matter of satisfaction that this point has now been recognised by the World Bank. We believe that these consultations should be given adequate time.
Q: Sir, what is the status update on the demonetisation issue? Have you agreed to allow a little more relaxation to diplomats for the withdrawal of Rs 50,000?
Swarup: As you are aware, we had a constructive meeting with the dean of the Diplomatic Corps on December 8. Subsequently, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar wrote to the Dean on December 10 in which he said that the dean had given some practical suggestions about how temporary difficulties faced by some missions could be eased. The foreign secretary said that we are consulting on this matter and will revert in due course. I have nothing further to add at this point in time.
Q: Have the dates for the visit of Sheikh Hasina been finalised?
Swarup: No, not yet, and that’s why the dates were never announced by me in the first place.
Q: But you did say that they were being worked ou?
Swarup: Exactly. So when I say the dates are being worked out, it means they have not been worked out, otherwise I would have announced the visit.
Q: As far as the foreign secretary’s visit to the US is concerned, we believe that he did hold some meetings with the people, who are close, maybe, to the incoming administration as well. Could you elaborate about what are we looking at and what the meetings were about?
Swarup: Well, about the foreign secretary’s visit to New York, let me tell you, he went only to New York; he did not go to Washington DC. So his visit to New York was entirely in the context of consultations on UN matters.
The foreign secretary met with the UN secretary general-designate, António Guterres and had a good conversation with him. The secretary general-designate appreciated India’s engagement with the UN and contributions to various areas of UN work.The foreign secretary congratulated Guterres on his swearing-in and assured him that India would provide full support to him as he embarked on his tenure and addressed the issues he had outlined as his focus areas, including sustainable development and peace and security.
The foreign secretary also met the under-secretary general for political affairs, Jeffrey Feldman, and exchanged views with him on matters of regional and global interest.
So to the visit was entirely in the context of UN issues. He did not engage with any members of the (Donald) Trump team or the incoming administration. But as you know, in the past I have briefed you on this that he has had the conversation with some of the senior members of the Trump team, that is, the incoming administration.
Q: Was there any discussion on Masood Azhar and whether to block him or designating him as a terrorist?
Swarup: Well, there the UN secretary general does not have any role; it’s a matter for the 1267 Committee. The 1267 Committee has 15 members, who are all members of the Security Council and really, the ball is in their court. So we remain hopeful that eventually the logic of Masood Azhar not remaining outside the ambit of the 1267 Committee when the organisation he represents has been proscribed for very many years will be seen by this body.
Q: Besides the visits that you announced, is there anything going to be announced, any visits before December 31?
Swarup: Oh, so you are wondering whether you can take off for the holidays or not? Well, as of now, the visit of the Kyrgyz President is the last visit for this year, hopefully.
Q: And do you have any comment on the new secretary of state of the US?
Swarup: Well, we have seen, of course, the reports about Rex Tillerson being selected by President-elect Trump as secretary of state. We will continue to closely follow the developments leading up to his confirmation.
Q: Today, yet again Hafiz Saeed had a rally in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and this comes interestingly just days after a new Pakistan Army chief and ISI chief have been appointed. How do you see this development? He has again, along with other terror groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Hizbul Mujahideen and Sayyed Salahuddin, come together. Again the rhetoric is against India and he has shown solidarity with Kashmiri separatists.
Swarup: But look, what is new in what such people say? Their only job is to spew venom at India, promote violence and terrorism and show their perverse mindset, which only believes in glorification of terrorists, promoting hatred between countries rather than peace and amity. Our views on Hafiz Saeed are well known and I do not need to reiterate them.
Edited excerpts from the briefing by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Vikas Swarup on December 15
