World Bank Neutral Expert said it is competent to resolve the Indus Water Treaty dispute.
World Bank Neutral Expert has been appointed under the terms of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), 1960.
It said it is “competent” to decide on differences between India and Pakistan on the design of hydroelectric projects built on the Indus Treaty rivers.
The Neutral Expert has rejected Pakistan’s request to facilitate the establishment of a Court of Arbitration to resolve the issue.
A neutral Expert has the right to decide on all seven questions over the Kishenganga, and Ratle projects.
India welcomed the decision given by the Neutral Expert under Paragraph 7 of Annexure F to the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960
A neutral Expert and a chairman of the Court of Arbitration regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants were established in 2022.
Under the Indus water treaty, India has been granted access to the water from the ‘Eastern Rivers’ — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — and Pakistan retained rights to the waters from the ‘Western Rivers’ Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
