ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: World Bank neutral expert Raymond Latiffe arbitrating on the Baglihar dam dispute between Pakistan and India has asked the two sides to submit by Oct 26 written comments on the preliminary assessment that he shared with them in Paris early this week.

The next and final meeting has been convened by the neutral expert in Washington on Nov 7. During the three-day meeting, written comments submitted by the two countries would be discussed, sources told Dawn on Saturday.

The neutral expert will issue his verdict in December.

The World Bank neutral expert has, apparently, forbidden both sides from making any public statements about the Paris meeting.

“We are under oath not to say anything about it at this stage,” an official who attended the meeting said.

He declined to say any more than that “the meeting went off very well”.

Water and Power Secretary Ashfaq Mahmood headed the Pakistan team at the three-day meeting in Paris which concluded on Wednesday. The team comprised eight members, including Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah. India had sent a 16-member delegation.