<p>India will not take part in an arbitration initiated by the World Bank to resolve its dispute with Pakistan over two hydroelectric projects proposed to be built on cross-border rivers.<br /><br /></p>.<p>New Delhi decided against taking part in the process after the World Bank accepted Islamabad’s request to set up a Court of Arbitration under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to resolve India-Pakistan dispute over the proposed Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.<br /><br />New Delhi had asked the World Bank to first appoint a neutral expert under the IWT itself to resolve the dispute, instead of setting up a Court of Arbitration as sought by Pakistan.<br /><br />Neutral expert<br />The World Bank, however, decided to go ahead to appoint a Neutral Expert as well as to set up a Court of Arbitration.<br /><br />“It was pointed (out) by the Government (of India) to the World Bank that the pursuit of two parallel difference or dispute resolution mechanisms – appointment of a Neutral Expert and establishment of a Court of Arbitration – at the same time would be legally untenable,” Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, said on Thursday.<br /><br />“Inexplicably,” he added, “the World Bank has decided to continue to proceed with these two parallel mechanisms simultaneously”.<br /><br />“India cannot be party to actions which are not in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty,” said Swarup. “The government will examine further options and take steps accordingly.”<br /><br />The World Bank brokered the negotiation between India and Pakistan on the IWT, which was finally signed by the two nations in 1960. The IWT provided a legal framework to India and Pakistan for managing the water resources of the cross-border rivers. The World Bank continued to play the role of treaty administrator.<br /><br /></p>
<p>India will not take part in an arbitration initiated by the World Bank to resolve its dispute with Pakistan over two hydroelectric projects proposed to be built on cross-border rivers.<br /><br /></p>.<p>New Delhi decided against taking part in the process after the World Bank accepted Islamabad’s request to set up a Court of Arbitration under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to resolve India-Pakistan dispute over the proposed Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.<br /><br />New Delhi had asked the World Bank to first appoint a neutral expert under the IWT itself to resolve the dispute, instead of setting up a Court of Arbitration as sought by Pakistan.<br /><br />Neutral expert<br />The World Bank, however, decided to go ahead to appoint a Neutral Expert as well as to set up a Court of Arbitration.<br /><br />“It was pointed (out) by the Government (of India) to the World Bank that the pursuit of two parallel difference or dispute resolution mechanisms – appointment of a Neutral Expert and establishment of a Court of Arbitration – at the same time would be legally untenable,” Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, said on Thursday.<br /><br />“Inexplicably,” he added, “the World Bank has decided to continue to proceed with these two parallel mechanisms simultaneously”.<br /><br />“India cannot be party to actions which are not in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty,” said Swarup. “The government will examine further options and take steps accordingly.”<br /><br />The World Bank brokered the negotiation between India and Pakistan on the IWT, which was finally signed by the two nations in 1960. The IWT provided a legal framework to India and Pakistan for managing the water resources of the cross-border rivers. The World Bank continued to play the role of treaty administrator.<br /><br /></p>