In a significant diplomatic move, India has decided to formally request the neutral expert appointed by the World Bank to temporarily halt the proceedings related to the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects. The projects, both situated in Jammu and Kashmir, have been at the centre of a long-standing water dispute between India and Pakistan under the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank, assigning control over the eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum) to Pakistan. However, India is permitted to use the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes, such as hydroelectric power generation, within defined limits. The Kishanganga and Ratle projects fall under this category.
India’s decision to approach the World Bank stems from concerns over what it considers a “parallel process” involving both a neutral expert and a Court of Arbitration, initiated by Pakistan. According to India, this dual-track process is against the spirit of the Treaty and threatens its integrity. India maintains that the differences raised by Pakistan can be adequately addressed through the neutral expert mechanism alone, without invoking a full arbitration.
The Indian government has also emphasized the need for bilateral discussions before pursuing international dispute resolution mechanisms. By seeking a pause in the proceedings, New Delhi aims to create space for direct dialogue with Pakistan, thereby exploring avenues for resolving the technical differences without escalating them to a legal confrontation.
Senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have been involved in drafting India’s formal communication to the World Bank. According to government sources, the letter will reiterate India’s commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty while underlining the importance of adhering strictly to its dispute resolution protocols.
The World Bank, which acts as a facilitator under the Treaty, had previously paused the simultaneous processes in 2016 after objections were raised by India. However, in 2022, the Bank allowed both the neutral expert and the Court of Arbitration proceedings to move forward simultaneously — a decision that India has consistently opposed.
Pakistan has objected to both projects, alleging that they violate the terms of the Treaty and reduce the flow of water into its territory. India has refuted these claims, asserting that all construction and operational details comply fully with treaty norms and technical provisions.
The matter is gaining diplomatic attention as both countries remain firm on their positions. India's appeal for a pause is being seen as an effort to prevent the escalation of a technical disagreement into a broader geopolitical issue.
Analysts believe that India’s current approach may help bring back focus on mutual engagement and avoid the politicisation of water sharing. The coming weeks will reveal how the World Bank responds to India’s request and whether the two neighbours can find common ground to de-escalate the dispute under one of the world's longest-standing water treaties.
