Indus water dispute: Pak asks World Bank to resume arbitration process

TIL Desk/World/Washington-Pakistan has urged the World Bank to resume the process of arbitration in its Indus water dispute with India despite the latter’s objection. Pakistan in its communications with the bank argued that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) can only be saved by arbitration. Islamabad said that it wants the bank to restart the arbitration process as much of the precious time has already been lost even if India disagrees with the suggestion.

India had informed World Bank representative, Ian H. Solomon that Pakistan’s request for setting up a court of arbitration was not acceptable to New Delhi. Solomon was in India to hold the discussion on the water dispute. However, India asked the bank to appoint a neutral expert. Pakistan is raising its objection to building of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric plants by India saying that it violates the provisions of the treaty.

Tensions increased over the water dispute when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan. World Bank had earlier asked both the countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty Dispute 1960.