Monday, March 14 2005 14:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India has asked World Bank (WB) not to appoint a 'neutral expert' to go into the dispute over the Baglihar hydro-electric project as sought by Pakistan, Lok Sabha was informed today (Mar 14, 2005).

"Unfortunately, Pakistan has ignored the bilateral process provided in the (Baglihar) treaty and approached the World Bank on January 15, 2005 expressing that differences have arisen," Water Resources Minister P R Dasmunsi said during Question Hour.

Following this, India told the Bank that the situation envisaged in the treaty for recourse to it for a valid appointment of a neutral expert "has yet not arisen, and accordingly, the Bank should refrain from making such appointment leaving the parties to settle remaining issues through mutual cooperative discussions in good faith".

Otherwise, the dispute should be settled in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the treaty, Dasmunsi said.

The World Bank has not so far responded to India's stand, Dasmunsi said.

Regarding the January Indo-Pak talks on the issue, he said there appeared to be a possibility of convergence on some of the technical issues raised by Pakistan.

Hence, the Indian side requested for further talks for one week between technical experts of the two countries after which the Secretary-level talks could resume, he said.

"Pakistan agreed to this suggestion provided India agrees first to suspend the work on the project, which is not provided for in the treaty and was not acceptable to us," he said.