Thursday, April 28 2005 19:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Three months after Pakistan sought its intervention on the Baglihar dam issue with India, the World Bank has sent its recommendation to the two countries for appointment of a neutral expert from a three-member panel.

"We have received a reply from World Bank recommending appointment of a neutral expert and proposing a panel of three experts," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi today (Apr 28, 2005).

The list of experts was communicated to the two countries simultaneously on Tuesday and they have been asked to choose their nominee within two weeks, official sources said.

In case the two sides differ on their choice of expert, the World Bank would use its discretion to appoint the expert.

Following differences, the two sides had failed to reach an agreement at the Secretary-level talks here in January on the contentious 450 MW Baglihar hydro-power project over river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir.

India rejected the Pakistani contention that the design of the power project was in violation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and aimed at flooding it.

Pakistan then announced its decision to seek World Bank arbitration, contending that bilateralism has failed to settle the issue.

Terming this move as premature and not justified, India felt that differences could be sorted out "bilaterally" by the two sides through further technical level discussions.

The issue figured during talks Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had here with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders during his three-day visit earlier this month.

The Indian side conveyed that it was committed to the parameters laid down by the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. The Prime Minister had conveyed to Musharraf that India had no intention to harm Pakistan's interests.