The World Bank President Ajay Banga has said that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between Pakistan and India does not allow one -sided suspension, emphasizing that the agreement can only be changed or suspended with mutual consent.

His remarks come in the wake of India’s statement of one -sided and illegally end the treaty following the false flag surgery in Pahagam last month, a step criticized broadly in Pakistan and considered a violation of international obligations.

“There is no provision in the treaty to allow for suspension how it was prepared. It must either be gone or replaced by another, and it requires the two countries to agree,” he said, talking to CNBC TV18.

However, he noted that although the bank did not arouse or enforce provisions, it helps to initiate the procedure when the Treaty’s dispute resolution mechanisms are triggered.

In case of disagreement, the bank facilitates the appointment of either a neutral expert or an arbitration court without taking an attitude himself.

Banga declared that the World Bank acts exclusively as a facilitator in connection with the treaty, which was broken by the bank in 1960 to regulate water sharing between India and Pakistan.

“We have to pay the fees for these guys through a trust fund created at the bank at the time of creating the treaty. That’s our role. We have no role to play beyond that,” he said.

The Indus Waters Treaty assigns control of rivers between the two nations and mandates that any changes in the agreement require mutual consent.

“That’s their decision,” he said, confirming that the bank had not received any formal communication from either India or Pakistan about the recent development.

In the wake of increased tension after a terrorist attack in Pahagam, India moved to unilaterally suspended key aspects of the treaty.

These actions include active regulation of water flow to Pakistan, especially via the Chenab River.

India has also stopped the mandatory sharing of hydrological data during the treaty and is considering expanding its controversial flush operations to the Kishanga Hydropower project on the Jhelum River.

Fo -answer

Meanwhile, Pakistan has responded to letters from India about the Indus Waters Treaty, which repeats that the treaty is a binding international agreement that remains in full and cannot be suspended or violated, the Foreign Office said Wednesday.

Fo -spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan has made it clear to India that any violation of the treaty would be unacceptable. “The Indus Waters Treaty is an international obligation to be maintained,” he added.

The spokesman also emphasized that the treaty under no circumstances allows suspension. “There is no provision within the Indus Waters Treaty for it unilaterally suspended. It is fully in force and must be implemented in letter and spirit,” Khan repeated.

FO claimed that Pakistan will continue to raise his vote on any relevant forum to protect his rights under the Treaty.