Pakistan has asked the World Bank to fulfil its obligations regarding the Indus Water Treaty.
It objected to the body pausing two concurrent processes related to Indo-Pak dispute over Kishenganga and Ratle project.
Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar held that the treaty does not provide for a situation where a party can pause performance of its obligations under the accord.
World Bank’s decision to pause the process of empanelment of the Court of Arbitration will seriously prejudice Pakistani interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, according to Dar.
Appointment of a Chairman of the Court Arbitration was stressed upon by Pakistan.
The pause by the World Bank is to protect the Indus Waters Treaty and help India and Pakistan to consider alternative approaches for resolving interests under the treaty and its application to two hydroelectric power plants.
India took exception to the World Bank’s decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan’s complaint against it over Ratle and Kishenganga hydroelectric projects in J&K.
Know More About the Permanent Indus Commission- Permanent Indus Commission is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan.
- Aims to implement and manage the goals, objectives and outlines of the Indus Waters Treaty.
- Commission cooperates between the two countries.
- Following the September 2016 terror attacks, the Indus Commission was deactivated.
- Indus Water Treaty was signed in September 1960.
- The Indus Commission is the first step for conflict resolution.
- If an agreement cannot be reached at the Commission level, the dispute is to be referred to the two governments.
- If the governments too fail to reach an agreement, the Treaty provides an arbitration mechanism.
