India names counsel for Kishenganga legal battle with Pakistan

With a legal battle looming over the Kishenganga power project being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, India Wednesday named two experts for arbitration in an international court and invited Islamabad for consultations on who its head should be.

With a legal battle looming over the Kishenganga power project being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, India Wednesday named two experts for arbitration in an international court and invited Islamabad for consultations on who its head should be.

HT Image

Pakistan has objected to the 330 MW hydro power plant on the Kishenganga, a tributary of the Jhelum, and instituted arbitration proceedings under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

On May 28, Pakistan appointed Bruno Simma, a judge of the International Court of Justice and Jan Paulsson, a legal consultant, as its arbitrators for the seven-member Court of Arbitration that is being set up in accordance with the treaty.

India Wednesday nominated Peter Tomka, vice president of the International Court of Justice, and Lucius Caflisch, a legal expert and member of the International Law Commission, to the arbitration court.

"The government of India has also invited Pakistan for consultations regarding the appointment of three umpires, including a chairman of the Court of Arbitration, by mutual agreement," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here.

Under the Indus treaty, Pakistan has rights over three of the common rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - while India has exclusive rights over Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.