NEW DELHI, June 11: The first meeting of Pakistani and Indian representatives with the neutral expert of the World Bank on Baglihar dam issue on Friday focused on procedures which he would adopt to identify differences between the two stake holders. The first meeting on the issue was held on June 9-10 in Paris, said a press release issued here Saturday by Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and the neutral expert heard the views of delegations of Pakistan and India on procedure and documents, added the release.
Pakistan’s delegation was led by its Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan while the secretary, ministry of water resources led the Indian delegation. It may be recalled that the World Bank had appointed Prof Raymond Lafitte of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology as neutral expert to make a determination on difference which Pakistan had referred to it, the release added.
Opening the meeting, Mr Roberto Danino, senior vice president and general counsel of the World Bank, appreciated the constructive manner in which the Indus Waters Treaty had been followed for the past 45 years.
He pointed out that Prof Lafitte was appointed in consultation with the governments of India and Pakistan and he was happy that the World Bank had a constructive and positive role to play in the process.
SITE INSPECTION: Mr Raymond Lafitte along with the representatives of Pakistan and India would visit the controversial Baglihar dam site in October.
It may be recalled that the Swiss engineer would submit his final report to the WB.—APP
