Himalayan News Service

Islamabad, April 29:

Pakistan has informed the World Bank of its choice of expert from among the three names proposed by the bank to arbitrate on the Baglihar dam issue. Foreign Office spokesman

Jilal Abbas Jilani said Pakistan had not received any formal information from India on halting of work on the dam being built on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview to BBC yesterday, Jilani said: “We have nominated one expert and formally informed the World Bank of our decision.” He said President Pervez Musharraf, during his April 16-18 India visit, had raised the Baglihar dam issue with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and both leaders had pledged that no step would be taken which could affect the bilateral confidence building measures, reports Online News Agency. He stated that construction of the Baglihar dam was a violation of Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, brokered by the World Bank. He said it was not discussed during President Musharraf’s India visit that Pakistan would withdraw its application on appointment of neutral experts for arbitration on the dispute. Yesterday Indian external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi: “We have received a reply from the World Bank recommending appointment of a neutral expert. They have also proposed a panel of three names.” However, he did not reveal the names.