India writes to the World Bank’s neutral expert, Michael Lino, to request a pause in his proceedings on the Ratle and Kishen Ganga hydropower dispute. This happens as the Union government decides to place the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance.

Lino has reportedly sought Pakistan’s view on India’s request, which Islamabad currently opposes. The French dam engineer and the President of the International Commission on Large Dams, Lino was appointed by the World Bank on October 13, 2022, under Article XI and Annexure F of the Indus Water Treaty. His mandate requires him to listen to both the parties and determine whether the design of these projects complies with international standards.

The dispute between the two nations is being heard by Lino since 2022 concerning Indian hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir — Kishen Ganga on the Kishen Ganga River and Ratle on the Chenab River.

What India-Pak Say

\While Pakistan claims that India is violating the treaty, particularly on minimum water flow requirements, India maintains that the treaty will remain in abeyance until ‘Pakistan credibly and irrevocably observes its support for cross-border terrorism.’ The Indian government has also notified Lino to vacate the mutually agreed work program pertaining to the Kishen Ganga and Ratle disputes.

Pakistan also objected to India’s stand and opposed any proposal to suspend the dispute resolution proceedings. As per the agreed 2025 work program, Pakistan was to submit its written response to India’s submission by August 7.