The World Bank-appointed Neutral Expert has announced that it is competent to decide on the differences between India and Pakistan over two hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, under the Indus Water Treaty.
The Neutral Expert has rejected Pakistan’s plea to facilitate the establishment of a Court of Arbitration to consider its concerns about the designs of the two hydroelectric power projects. India had asked for the appointment of a Neutral Expert to consider concerns over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects. In a statement, the Neutral Expert said, after careful consideration and analysis, that he should decide on the merits of the Points of Difference.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has been India’s consistent and principled position that the Neutral Expert alone has the competence under the Indus Water Treaty to decide these differences pertaining to the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants in J&K. In a statement, MEA said the decision upholds and vindicates India’s stand that all seven questions were referred to the Neutral Expert concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.
In 2022, the World Bank appointed a Neutral Expert and a chairman of the Court of Arbitration regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants, in view of disagreements and differences between the two countries over the 1960 Indus Water