India, Pakistan reach out to World Bank on Indus Water Treaty

WASHINGTON: The World Bank, the international lender which had mediated the Indus Water Treaty, today said it was approached by India and Pakistan and it is "responding in its limited, procedural role as set out in the treaty".

"India and Pakistan have informed the World Bank that each has initiated proceedings pursuant to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 and the World Bank Group is responding in its limited, procedural role as set out in the Treaty," a World Bank spokesperson told PTI here.

"For further details on the proceedings brought under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, your enquiry is best directed to the member governments," the spokesman said, refusing to comment any further.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with officials to review provisions of the Indus Water Treaty.

In that meeting it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water-sharing pact.

Pakistan next day approached the World Bank, with its senior officials taking up the matter with the body.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said the Indus Water Treaty was a mutually agreed arrangement between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank and no one country can unilaterally separate itself from the treaty.