ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has welcomed the landmark decision of the Arbitration Court under the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which supports Pakistan’s stance on the Indus Waters Treaty and rejects India’s unilateral move to suspend the treaty.
The court ruled that India cannot unilaterally halt arbitration proceedings or suspend the treaty, as there is no provision in the Indus Waters Treaty allowing such action. The treaty will remain in force unless both Pakistan and India mutually agree to suspend it, the court clarified.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s readiness for meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, water, trade, and terrorism. He emphasized that the role of the Arbitration Court remains intact and unaffected by India’s actions.
The court stated that India’s attempt to block arbitration proceedings violates the treaty’s binding dispute resolution mechanism. It further declared that efforts to limit the arbitrator’s role in resolving disputes contradict the treaty’s mandatory provisions.
Pakistan had approached the Arbitration Court in 2016 against India’s alleged illegal construction of water reservoirs on western rivers. India, during the proceedings, had requested that the court appoint a neutral expert and later asked for the suspension of arbitration following its unilateral suspension of the treaty—an appeal that was firmly rejected in today’s ruling.
The Arbitration Court confirmed it will continue its impartial and effective role in addressing disputes under the Indus Waters Treaty.
