ISLAMABAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Pakistan on Tuesday decided to seek intervention of the World Bank in the dispute over India's construction of the Baglihar dam in the India-held Kashmir, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said in a statement.

    After a high level meeting held Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the Pakistani government decided that it would formally approach the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert for the resolution of the Baglihar issue, said Khan.

    The World Bank brokered the Indus Water Treaty, which was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 and divides water of six rivers flowing from Kashmir.

    Aziz took the decision after listening to reports on the statusof the construction of the dam, Pakistan's persistent efforts to settle the issue within the mechanisms of the treaty and to persuade India to stop work at the dam, Khan noted.

    Pakistan has tried to resolve the dispute bilaterally through talks but is approaching the Work Bank after the two countries failed to reach any agreement.

    "Pakistan was left with no choice but to go to the World Bank,"said Khan, adding "Pakistan tried every channel provided by the treaty, but India did not change its stance and refused to meet Pakistan's legitimate concerns."

    Pakistan objects to the construction of the 330-megawatt hydro-electric Baglihar dam project, which started in 1999 and would be operational by April. It claims that the project violates the Indus Water Treaty and would affect the flow of river water to itsterritory.

    Pakistan and India have held several rounds of talks on the dam.Experts of the two countries had long discussion on the issue in New Delhi earlier this month but the talks ended without any agreement. Enditem