ISLAMABAD – The World Bank has asked Pakistan to accept an offer by Indiato appoint a neutral expert over the dispute over Kishanganga dam, whichwas inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. World Bank hasasked Pakistan to climb down from the demand of taking up the issue withthe International Court of Arbitration (ICA).

In May, a high-powered Pakistani delegation led by Attorney General AshtarAusaf Ali, met with Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Chief ExecutiveOfficer, and the regional management for South Asia.

During the meetings, held at Pakistan’s request to discuss issues regardingthe Indus Waters Treaty and opportunities within the treaty to seek anamicable resolution, “several procedural options” for resolving thedisagreement over the interpretation of the treaty’s provisions werediscussed, the bank had said.

“While an agreement on the way forward was not reached at the conclusion ofthe meetings, the World Bank will continue to work with both countries toresolve the issues in an amicable manner and in line with the treatyprovisions,” the Bank had said in a statement at the end of the talks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in May inaugurated the 330 MW Kishangangahydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan had protested theinauguration claiming that the project on a river flowing into Pakistanwill disrupt water supplies.

The project, located at Bandipore in North Kashmir, envisages diversion ofwater of Kishan Ganga river to underground power house through a23.25-km-long head race tunnel to generate 1713 million units per annum.

The Kishanganga project was started in 2007 but on May 17, 2010, Pakistanmoved for international arbitration against India under the provisions ofthe Indus Waters Treaty.