India rejects Hague tribunal’s new Indus Waters award as 'illegal', calls it ‘grave violation’ of treaty
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "India rejects Hague tribunal’s new Indus Waters award as 'illegal', calls it ‘grave violation’ of treaty")
Image of MEA spokesperson for representation Photograph: (ANI)
India rejects Hague tribunal’s new Indus Waters award as “illegal,” says 1960 treaty stays in abeyance.
India on Monday (Aug 31) rejected an award by the Court of Arbitration linked to the Indus Waters Treaty, calling the body “illegally constituted” and saying its decision to keep the 1960 pact with Pakistan in abeyance remains in force. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Court of Arbitration was constituted by the World Bank in “patent breach” of the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty. India, it said, has never recognised the legal existence of the court.
“India has consistently maintained that the very establishment of this alleged arbitral body constitutes a grave violation of the Indus Waters Treaty,” the MEA said. It added that India has neither appeared before the body nor taken cognisance of its earlier pronouncements.
The ministry said the Court of Arbitration had “no jurisdiction whatsoever” to rule on India’s sovereign decisions. “Its pronouncements, now or in the future, will have no effect on India’s actions in connection with the projects being undertaken by India,” the MEA said, adding that India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance “remains in force”.
India suspended the treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack last year, which killed 26 innocent people. New Delhi has blamed Pakistan for supporting terrorism, a charge Islamabad has denied.
What did Court of Arbitration say?
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
The Court of Arbitration said none of the grounds cited could justify the suspension or termination of the Indus Waters Treaty and that India must continue to comply with its obligations under the agreement.
The court said this included obligations concerning the design and operation of India's hydro-electric projects on the Western Rivers.
It also ordered measures restricting India from concreting the dam wall and power intake structure of the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project above specified levels until 90 days after the Neutral Expert issues a final decision, expected in July 2027.
