Pakistan approaches ICJ over Indus Waters Treaty

TIL Desk/World/Islamabad-Pakistan on Tuesday approached the International Court of Justice over implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, with senior Pakistani officials taking up the matter with the World Bank. A delegation led by the Attorney General for Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, met senior officials of the World Bank at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington to discuss matters relating to Pakistan’s recent Request for Arbitration given to India pursuant to Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.

On August 19, Pakistan formally requested India for settlement of outstanding disputes pertaining to India’s construction of Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants on rivers Neelum and Chenab respectively, by referring the matters to the Court of Arbitration as provided in Article IX of the treaty. Under the treaty, the World Bank has an important role in establishment of the Court of Arbitration by facilitating the process of appointment of three judges, called Umpires, to the court, while each country appoints two arbitrators.

Pakistani officials met senior officials of the World Bank to insist on early appointment of the judges and empanelment the court. The move comes as Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs and Security, Sartaj Aziz said an attempt by India to block Pakistan’s water could be seen as an act of war. Speaking on the National Assembly floor, Sartaj Aziz said China would get justification to block Indian water if New Delhi did the same to Pakistan.