https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
NEW DELHI, May 14 (Alliance News): World Bank President Ajay Banga has clarified that there is no provision in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) that allows any single country to suspend or terminate the agreement unilaterally.
In an interview with Indian media, Banga stated that while India may have halted the implementation of the treaty, the treaty itself remains in force. “The Indus Waters Treaty has not been suspended. For the treaty to be terminated or replaced, both India and Pakistan must mutually agree,” he emphasized.
He further elaborated that any modification or replacement of the treaty would require bilateral consensus. “There is no mechanism in place that allows one party to walk away from the treaty unilaterally. It is a binding agreement,” Banga said.
The World Bank, which brokered the treaty in 1960, continues to serve as a guarantor for its implementation. Banga underlined that in case of a dispute or disagreement, the World Bank’s role remains that of a facilitator, not an enforcer.
The clarification comes amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India over water rights, particularly following Indian statements about reconsidering the treaty in light of geopolitical developments.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concern over India’s unilateral moves regarding water projects on rivers flowing into Pakistan, warning that such actions violate the spirit and letter of the IWT.
