India will take up with China the issue of its blocking of a tributary of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet as part of the construction of its hydro project. Replying to a media query, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi, there is a bilateral agreement with China to share information on cross border rivers which include Brahmaputra and Sutlej.
Mr Swarup said, it has been conveyed to the Chinese side that they should be mindful of the interests of the lower riparian country while undertaking any projects on these rivers. He also talked about various bilateral mechanisms between India and China to deal with river water issue.
Swarup also said that India is reviewing the 'Most Favoured Nation' status granted to Pakistan based on the security and trade interests, asserting that terror cannot be the commodity exported.
Referring to the speech by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hailing Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in the country’s Parliament, Swarup said, it shows Islamabad’s complicity in terrorism directed against India and was “self implicating”. Mr. Sharif on Wednesday hailed Wani as “son of the Kashmiri soil” while addressing a joint session of Parliament.
“Promoting shared prosperity with neighbours has been government’s priority but terror cannot be the commodity exported. We will undertake a review based on our security and trade interests,” Mr. Swarup said when asked if India will review the MFN status given to Pakistan by India, unilaterally.
