India, Pakistan approach mediator World Bank on Indus Waters Treaty

The World Bank, which brokered the Indus Waters Treaty, said India and Pakistan have approached the financial body on the deal and it was “responding in its limited, procedural role as set out in the treaty”.

The World Bank, which brokered the Indus Waters Treaty, said India and Pakistan have approached the financial body on the deal and it was “responding in its limited, procedural role as set out in the treaty”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with officials on Monday to review provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. (Nitin Kanotra/ HT File Photo)

“India and Pakistan have informed the World Bank that each has initiated proceedings pursuant to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 and the World Bank Group is responding in its limited, procedural role as set out in the Treaty,” a World Bank spokesperson told PTI here.

Read | World Bank ‘commits’ to fulfil obligations under Indus Waters Treaty: Pakistan

“For further details on the proceedings brought under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, your enquiry is best directed to the member governments,” the spokesman said yesterday, refusing to comment any further.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with officials to review provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.

In that meeting it was decided that India will “exploit to the maximum” the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water-sharing pact.

Pakistan next day approached the World Bank, with its senior officials taking up the matter with the body.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday said the Indus Waters Treaty was a mutually agreed arrangement between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank and no one country can unilaterally separate itself from the treaty.