The World Bank Group Thursday urged India and Pakistan to agree to mediation in order to settle on a mechanism for how the Indus Waters Treaty should be used to resolve issues regarding two dams under construction along the Indus rivers system. Pakistan has complained that Kishanganga and Ratle dams are being constructed by India in violation of the Indus Water Treaty.
The World Bank Group made the appeal as it told the two countries it was responding to their separate proceedings initiated under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.
The World Bank Group held a drawing of lots Thursday at its headquarters in Washington, DC to determine who will appoint three umpires to sit on the Court of Arbitration that Pakistan has requested. The World Bank Group also proposed to the two countries the names of three potential candidates for appointment as a Neutral Expert, following India’s request.
“The World Bank Group has a strictly procedural role under the Indus Waters Treaty and the treaty does not allow it to choose whether one procedure should take precedence over the other. This is why we drew the lots and proposed potential candidates for the Neutral Expert today,” said Senior Vice President and World Bank Group General Counsel Anne-Marie Leroy.
“What is clear, though, is that pursuing two concurrent processes under the treaty could make it unworkable over time and we therefore urge both parties to agree to mediation that the World Bank Group can help arrange. The two countries can also agree to suspend the two processes during the mediation process or at any time until the processes are concluded.”
New Delhi said on Thursday it wouldn’t be a party to a court of arbitration process on Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, a demand by Islamabad that has been accepted by the World Bank.
India sought for the neutral experts looking into the bilateral differences over the technical aspects of the projects, while Pakistan asked for a court of arbitration.
The World Bank decided to proceed with both steps, and India says the movie is not in accordance with the Indus Water Treaty.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that his government would examine further options and take steps accordingly. India’s grouse is that the World Bank hasn’t followed the procedures laid out in the treaty.
India says Pakistan’s objections are technical in nature and the bilateral Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) can address these technical ‘questions’, the spokesman said.