Friday, April 29 2005 18:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Ruling out any further discussion with India to resolve the Baglihar dam controversy, Pakistan has said that it would abide by the decision of the neutral expert of the World Bank on the issue.

Close on the heels of the World Bank sending its recommendations to the two countries for appointment of a neutral expert from a three-member panel, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, "Pakistan would stick to the Indus Basin Water Treaty, come what may. Once the neutral expert decides the issue, it would accept it in true spirit."

"Pakistan and India are signatory to the Indus Water Treaty and I hope that the decision of the neutral expert will be acceptable to both the countries," he told reporters in Islamabad yesterday (Apr 28, 2005).

Pakistan sought the World Bank's intervention on the construction of the Baglihar hydro-power project by India in Jammu and Kashmir after their talks to resolve the issue broke down in January. The World Bank is a signatory to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.

Aziz said the Government had received names of three water experts from the World Bank. "This is the best way (to settle the issue) instead of engaging in discussion."

He denied reports that Pakistan took up the matter much after India began constructing the dam over river Chenab.