“World Bank Can’t Interpret It For Us”: India On Indus Water Treaty
On Thursday, India questioned the World Bank’s choice to establish two different processes—a Court of Arbitration and a neutral expert—to settle disputes between New Delhi and Islamabad on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following Islamabad’s “intransigence” in resolving conflicts, India this week sent a notice to Pakistan requesting a review and modification of the 62-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) for management of cross-border rivers.
“I do not think they (World Bank) are in a position to interpret the treaty for us. It is a treaty between our two countries and our assessment of the treaty is that there is a provision of graded approach,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Months after the World Bank announced the appointment of a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration to resolve the disagreements over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, India took the significant step of sending the notice to Pakistan conveying its intent to amend the treaty.
New Delhi has expressed special dissatisfaction with the Court of Arbitration’s selection.
Months after the World Bank announced the appointment of a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration to resolve the disagreements over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, India took the significant step of sending the notice to Pakistan conveying its intent to amend the treaty.
New Delhi has expressed special dissatisfaction with the Court of Arbitration’s selection.
In cases of disagreements between India and Pakistan about matters relating to cross-border rivers, the World Bank plays a procedural role and designates neutral experts or the chair of the court of arbitration.
Any disagreements must be settled in accordance with the agreement’s three-stage process. According to sources, the World Bank began two parallel dispute resolution procedures for the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects at the request of Pakistan, which India claimed violated the IWT.
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