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Two more held in Bihar abduction case

     Patna: Two more people have been arrested for the kidnapping of 14-year-old DPS student Kishalay Kaushal in Bihar. The Patna police today questioned the family of the main suspect in the kidnapping Chunnu Thakur, a local gangster already in jail. And for the first time since the series of student kidnappings in Bihar in recent weeks, Chief Minister Rabri Devi has spoken. She says the government is doing its job. "The government is trying its best. Investigations are on. What else can be done? You tell me. Nothing can be achieved through demonstrations or protests. The administration is doing all it can. We will surely succeed," Bihar Chief Minister said.

Venkaiah Naidu escapes copter crash-landing in Bihar (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Former BJP president and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkiah Naidu on Saturday had a miraculous escape when his helicopter crashlanded due to a technical snag in the naxal-infested Gaya District of Bihar. Party sources said no body was injured in the accident. Naidu was on his way to Jharkhand for election campaigning.

World Bank reviews 1960 Indus Treaty (Go To Top)

     Washington: The World Bank has reportedly received a set of documents from the Pakistan government to support its request for the appointment of a "neutral expert" to consider a difference that has arisen in the application of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. The Indus Waters Treaty was concluded by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960. The World Bank is a signatory to the treaty for certain specified purposes, but is not its guarantor. On January 18, the bank received the request from Pakistan calling on it to appoint a neutral expert under the provisions of the treaty. The bank immediately requested that Pakistan share with it a record of the actions taken prior to the request to ensure meticulous compliance with the treaty by all parties. Under the terms of the treaty, there are several prior steps before the World Bank's role in appointing a neutral expert is triggered.

     A first step could be that any "question" between the parties to the treaty be resolved through the Permanent Indus Commission itself. If the "question" is not resolved there, it becomes a "difference" and is referred to a neutral expert, to be appointed by the two countries, or by a third party agreed upon by the two countries. In the absence of such an agreement, the appointment of a neutral expert would be made by the World Bank in consultation with the two countries. This consultation would seek as far as possible to reach consensus within a reasonable time, in the absence of which, the World Bank has an obligation under the treaty to appoint a neutral expert. The documents received on Friday, which the bank will review expeditiously, need to indicate that all the necessary prior actions have been taken by the parties, so that the bank may satisfy itself that it is in strict compliance with the treaty when it takes the appropriate next step. The treaty does not envisage a role for the World Bank in the determination of any issues which might be brought before a neutral expert. The bank will not participate in any discussion or exchange beyond its role in the process of appointing a neutral expert.

     According to the treaty, the remaining responsibilities of the World Bank are: (1) A role for the World Bank in the appointment of a Neutral Expert. The first step under the treaty is to resolve any "question" through the Permanent Indus Commission itself. (2) The management by the World Bank of a trust fund to meet the expenses of a neutral expert and (3) A role for the World Bank in the establishment of a Court of Arbitration. If the "difference" does not fall within the mandate of the neutral expert, or if the neutral expert rules that the "difference" should be treated as a "dispute", then a Court of Arbitration would be established. The role of the World Bank, along with other institutions such as the Secretary General of the United Nations, is to participate in the selection of three appointees to the seven-person court. The parties to the treaty each select two members of the court. The World Bank itself plays no part in the actual hearing or determination of the issues before the tribunal.