The Permanent Indus Commission conference, which is held yearly under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 1960, began with India and Pakistan. The Indus discussions have survived the tie-freeze since both countries regard it as a requirement of the IWT. According to the ministry of external affairs, the two sides are expected to meet at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan, under the terms of the treaty.
Summits & Conferences 2022
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KEY POINTS:
- The most recent summit, held in New Delhi on March 23-24, 2021, focused on the exchange of hydrological and flood data.
- In March, India and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Indus Waters Treaty in its entirety, and expressed the hope that the Permanent Indus Commission’s next meeting will be conducted in India soon.
- A five-member Pakistani team has arrived in the United States for the two-day discussions.
- The Indus talks are not seen as a forerunner to a more substantial engagement between the two countries.
- The two countries previously met for diplomatic discussions in December 2015, and while they were able to announce a resumption of talks at that time, the process was never able to get off the ground due to the Pathankot assault.
Pakistan’s new administration assumed office, the two nations have been discussing ways to begin talks, but Islamabad has insisted that India first make a “concession” on the Kashmir issue.