Pakistan on Tuesday decided to seek World Bank arbitration to resolve its dispute with India over the Baglihar hydro-power project being built on river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir [Images].

"The decision to go to World Bank has been taken at a high level meeting this morning presided over by Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told PTI.

Also see: Baglihar project -- Talks fail

Pakistan is formally approaching the World Bank invoking Article 9 (2)(A) of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty to appoint a neutral expert to arbitrate over the Baglihar dispute.

Khan said Pakistan has decided to approach the World Bank after "exhausting" all bilateral avenues with India.

"We have held talks under the Indus Water Commission, water secretaries level and at the foreign secretaries level. Since India failed to accede to Pakistan's demand to stop work at the project, Pakistan has decided to approach the World Bank for arbitration," Khan said.

Khan said according to reports India was pressing ahead with the construction of what he termed "a dam."

"Under these circumstances, Pakistan was left with no option but to go to World Bank," he added.