India questioned World Bank decision about Indus water treaty

India has urged that a graduated procedure for resolving such disputes between the two countries first the commissioners should look through then a neutral expert followed by the court.

India questioned World Bank decision about Indus water treaty

India said on Thursday that the World Bank's decision to move forward with two parallel processes to resolve a dispute with Pakistan over two hydropower projects on cross-border rivers is in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan and India are at odds over the construction of two hydropower projects on rivers that cross their border. As a result of Pakistan's "intransigence" in resolving conflicts, India informed Pakistan on January 25 that it intended to revise the 62-year-old treaty for the management of cross-border rivers that had been mediated by the World Bank.The World Bank's decision to select a neutral expert at India's request and to proceed with an arbitration court at Pakistan's request to resolve the dispute over the Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir is what has led to the current deadlock.

India has urged that a graduated procedure for resolving such disputes between the two countries first the commissioners should look through then a neutral expert followed by the court.

“The World Bank itself...acknowledged the problem of having two parallel processes. Our interpretation and assessment is that this is not in consonance with the provisions of the treaty,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told.

“Hence, we have been talking about a graded approach...I don’t think our opposition has changed at all of this,” he said, noting that the World Bank had stated it was going ahead with the two processes because both countries had asked for them.

“I don’t think they [World Bank] are in a position to interpret the treaty for us. I think it’s a treaty between our two countries. And our assessment [and] interpretation of the treaty is that there is a graded approach,” he added.Bagchi said the “notice for modification” of the Indus Waters Treaty was issued by the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters to his Pakistani counterpart on January 25. “This notice was issued with the intent to provide Pakistan an opportunity to enter into government-to-government negotiations to rectify ongoing material breach of the treaty,” he said.

“We have called upon Pakistan to notify a suitable date for the commencement of inter-state bilateral negotiations under Article 12(3) of the treaty within 90 days. I’m not aware of a response from Pakistan as yet,” he said, making it clear that the World Bank has no role in this matter. 

 “I would not speculate as to our position or the exact modality of our approach...We are not involved or participating in that process but I would not like to prejudge the further steps at this stage,” he continued.

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