New Delhi: The crucial high-level bilateral talks on the Indus Waters Treaty concluded in Lahore in which India has rejected Pakistan’s objections on its two hydropower projects on Chenab river.

After the conclusion of talks, the first official engagement between India and Pakistan since Imran Khan became Prime Minister on August 18, Pakistan’s commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Meher Ali Shah told reporters that there would be no briefing and statement on the issue.

“It is a sensitive matter and we were conveyed (by the foreign office) not to speak on it. The foreign office will issue a statement in this regard,” Shah said.

Another official of the Pakistani side, on condition of anonymity, said India rejected Pakistan’s objections on the construction of the 1,000MW Pakal Dul dam and 48MW Lower Kalnal hydropower projects on the Chenab river.

“India has hinted at continuation of work on both the hydropower projects,” he said.

“Pakistan may approach the international forums defined in the Indus Waters Treaty over New Delhi’s refusal to accept the requests as narrated in the detailed objections,” the official said.

Pakistan has made it clear that it will have no option but to appointment neutral experts and take the case to the International Court of Arbitration in case India fails to address its concerns which are genuine, he said.

“Pakistani authorities asked Indians to reduce the height of the Pakal Dul’s reservoir up to five metres. India has also been urged to maintain 40-metre height above sea level while making spillways’ gates of the Pakal Dul project besides clarifying the pattern and mechanism for the water storage and releases,” Dawn quoted one of the participants of the meeting as saying.

“Similarly, Pakistan raised some technical concerns over design of the the Lower Kalnal hydropower project, requesting India to address them at the earliest,” the report said.