The move follows the breakdown of recent talks between Islamabad and New Delhi over possible water blockages caused by the Baghliar Dam in India's section of the divided Himalayan territory.

It is the first time Pakistan has sought outside involvement in a World Bank-brokered water-sharing treaty which it signed with India in 1960. The agreement has survived two wars between the South Asian foes.

"The government of Pakistan has decided to formally approach the World Bank for the appointment of a neutral expert for the resolution of the Baghliar dam issue," foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan told AFP.

He said the decision was taken at a high level meeting here Tuesday chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The water treaty bars India from interfering with the flow of the three rivers feeding Pakistan -- the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum -- but allows it to generate electricity from them.

Islamabad claims the dam could block water from the Chenab river and deprive it of vital irrigation in Pakistan's wheat-growing Punjab province. India says the fears are groundless.

"It was determined that Pakistan was left with no choice but to go to the World Bank," an official statement said.

Pakistan and India began a step-by-step peace process in January 2004 to solve key issues, including the core problem of Kashmir, but it has crawled almost to a halt in recent months over issues including Baghliar.

Aziz "took the decision after listening to reports on the status of the construction of the dam, Pakistan's persistent efforts to settle the issue within the mechanism of the treaty, and to persuade India to stop work at the dam being built in violation of the Indus Water Treaty," the statement said.