Pakistan has right to approach World Bank on Baglihar issue: Masood

Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said on Tuesday that Pakistan has the right to approach World Bank for the appointment of independent expert to settle the Baglihar dam issue with India. In an interview with a private television channel he said, the issue of Baglihar dam has an international perspective wherein World Bank being a negotiator and guarantor stands as a party.
He said international community including America and Europe want to know what is happening on Baglihar dam and what will be the fate of Water Sharing Treaty between India and Pakistan.
To a question he said there emerged stages during 2003-4 when the government of Pakistan had informed India about its plan to approach the World Bank on this issue.
Pakistan was disappointed over India's attitude adding the talks between Water Commissioners of the two countries were not showing results.
Pakistan tried to engage India through bilateral mechanism under article 91 of the WST but the Indians kept displaying delaying tactics by raising baseless technical issues.
In fact the Indians wanted to gain time to complete the construction work on controversial project, he said.
He said Pakistan has the privilege under article 92-A of the WST to approach WB and there is no confusion whatsoever in this regard.
A project like Baglihar dam does not comply with the parameters of Sindh Tass Treaty which is its clear violation, he added.
To another question he said, the high level meeting presided over the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday advised the concern quarters to prepare a case to be filed at World Bank for the appointment of independent expert.
He said President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had decided during the month of November last to approach the WB but on November 24, 2004 the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured Pakistan's leadership that a sincere effort would be made to settle the issue on the level of Water Secretaries of both the countries.
Responding to another question Masood said, the development may not have a direct affect on the CBMs taken between the two countries in past.
Elaborating he said, the mutual cease-fire at Lint of Control and the facilities to enhance contacts between the two countries would not be affected.
He however said that there is a general impression that the development would shatter the mutual confidence vis-a-vis on going process of composite dialogue.