US dismisses reports of offering mediation between India, Pakistan

The US today described as "completely inaccurate" media reports that it had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolve their differences over the sharing of river waters.

Reports in the Pakistani media today suggested that the water dispute between India and Pakistan had come up during the first meeting of the Water Working Group of the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue, which was held yesterday.

One media report even quoted US under-secretary for democracy and global affairs Maria Otero as saying that the US had agreed to mediate between the two countries within the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

US embassy spokesman Rick Snelsire described the media
reports as "completely inaccurate".

He told PTI: "The issue didn't even come up during the meeting of the Water Working Group." 

"The consistent position of the US has been that there is a treaty in place and it has a mechanism to address disputes between India and Pakistan. The US will encourage both parties to use the mechanism in the treaty," he said. 

Snelsire said that during a media interaction, under-secretary Othero too had pointed to the Indus Waters Treaty and the existing mechanism to resolve disputes without making any offer of US mediation.

Othero was asked about Pakistan's differences with India over the sharing of river waters during an interview with a TV news channel, and she replied: "Clearly we believe that is something that Pakistan and India have to do together and resolve together. Where the US comes in is in helping Pakistan, how it manages its water internally because there is a great deal of work that could be done."

Diplomatic sources said there was no mention of a US role in mediating between India and Pakistan in the joint statement issued after yesterday's meeting of the Water Working Group.

The Pakistan-US joint statement said officials of both sides had discussed the management of Pakistan's water resources.

The US officials underscored their country's commitment to a long-term partnership with Pakistan focused on improving the lives of the Pakistani people, institutional capacities and regulatory authorities dealing with drinking and irrigation water.

The two sides discussed the "significance of water security, the creation of a water regulatory authority and the sustainability of efficient infrastructure". 

They also exchanged views on future cooperation with multilateral development banks and private sectors to improve the management of Pakistan's water resources, the statement
said.