We will stand by verdict on Baghilar issue: Pak

Islamabad, Nov 6 (UNI) Pakistan today said it will stand by any verdict given by neutral arbitrator on the Baghlihar water dispute with India.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said, ''We will stand by the verdict.'' However, she dismissed as ''presumptive'' when asked if Pakistan would accept the verdict if it was in India's favour.

''This is presumptive to say that the verdict will go against Pakistan,'' she added.

Following collapse of the last round of talks between officials of the water department of both the countries on the controversial Baglihar hydropower project, Pakistan had sought the world Bank's intervention.

Pakistan claims that the design of the dam is in violation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) signed between New Delhi and Islamabad in 1960.

The bank, which facilitated the signing of the IWT, had appointed Prof Raymond Lafitte as the arbitrator, who has since then held a series of meetings between Indian and Pakistani experts.

UNI XC AK ND1944