THE HAGUE, June 22, 2011

A Court of Arbitration constituted pursuant to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 has completed a weeklong site visit of the Neelum-Jhelum and Kishenganga hydroelectric projects and surrounding areas located on the river Kishenganga/Neelum. Arriving first in Islamabad on June 15, from June 16-17, the Court visited the Neelum Valley by helicopter and inspected components of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (located some 40 kilometers east of Muzaffarabad). The Court then crossed the line of control at Chakothi/Aman Setu on June 17 and proceeded to Srinagar. From June 18-19, the Court inspected components of the Kishenganga Hydroelectric Project, located in the Gurez valley and the area near Bandipura north of Wular Lake. The Court then departed from India by way of New Delhi on June 20-21, 2011.

On May 17, 2010, Pakistan had instituted arbitral proceedings against India under Article IX and Annexure G of the Indus Waters Treaty, an international agreement signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 that allocates the use of the Indus river system between the two countries. Pakistan and India disagree on the application of the provisions of the Treaty regarding the Kishenganga Hydroelectric Project.