WB for Indo-Pakistan bilateral talks on Baglihar issue
By Shiraz Afzal - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank wants Pakistan to revert to bilateral track for resolving the Baglihar Dam dispute, which has become one of the thorniest issues in the ongoing dialogue process between the two sides.

Diplomatic sources say that the World Bank has informally conveyed to Pakistan that the bilateral path could prove to be more suitable way for the resolution of Baglihar Dam issue.

This appears to be a recent development as until last month officials were quite upbeat about the appointment of a neutral expert in accordance with the provisions of Indus Water Treaty.

The World Bank President visited Islamabad in the first week of February and after meeting Pakistani leaders he had said that the appointment of neutral expert will take two to four weeks.

Pakistan had moved the World Bank for the settlement of Baglihar Dam issue after talks in the ongoing composite dialogue process broke down.

Recap

In a letter to the World Bank, Pakistani authorities had asked the bank to appoint a neutral expert in accordance with the provision of Indus Water Treaty.

However, even after the passage of more than a month the World Bank has not appointed the neutral expert for the ascertainment of the facts relating to Baglihar Dam project.

Pakistan officials recently said that under the provision of the treaty the neutral expert should be appointed within one month of application from either party to the dispute.

Reportedly, Pakistan has asked the World Bank not to delay any further the appointment of a neutral expert.

Foreign Office Warns

Foreign Office spokesman has warned India not to pressurize the World Bank on the issue as it would only worsen the situation. India is continuing with the construction of Baglihar Dam project despite numerous protests from Pakistan that any further work on the project clearly violates the Indus Water Treaty.

The dam is being built on River Chenab, which originates in Indian held-Kashmir but flows into Pakistan.

Pakistan has also told the World Bank through a letter that it will be futile to resume negotiation on bilateral track as India has shown no sign of discontinuing the construction work on the dam project.

The bilateral talks between Pakistan and India on the issue broke down two months back after India refused to accept Pakistan’s demand to stop construction work on the dam project.

One of the conditions put forward by Pakistan for resuming the negotiations on the dispute is for India to stop construction work on the Baglihar Dam.

Court of Arbitration

Under the provision of the Indus Water Treaty the appointment of neutral expert (if this fails to resolves the dispute) is followed by setting up of court of arbitration for the resolution of the dispute through formal court proceedings.

During his last visit to Pakistan the former World Bank President discussed the issue of appointment of neutral expert, as requested by Pakistan, with the Pakistani leadership.

However, no clear-cut assurance was held out to Pakistan in this regard. He only assured that the World Bank would study the relevant rules and procedures in this regard. In 45 years of its existence the settlement provisions of the Indus Water Treaty have been invoked for the first time. There has been no precedence with regard to the settlement of any water dispute in accordance with the provisions of the treaty.

The World Bank President also said that the bank would go by the book for the resolution of Baglihar Dam project. He also said that the process of settlement of issue is not lengthy in accordance with the provision of the treaty and it only involves three to four weeks.●