Islamabad: In a significant diplomatic and legal victory for Pakistan, the international arbitration court operating under the Permanent Court of Arbitration has endorsed Pakistan’s stance on the Indus Waters Treaty, rejecting India’s attempt to unilaterally suspend the agreement and curtail the court’s jurisdiction. The ruling affirms that the treaty cannot be unilaterally altered or halted by either party and that arbitration proceedings will continue regardless of India’s objections.
The Government of Pakistan has welcomed the decision, calling it a “positive and just outcome” that supports Pakistan’s long-held position. The court found that the Indus Waters Treaty includes no provision allowing either country to suspend or withdraw from its obligations without mutual consent.
The judgment clearly states that the arbitral proceedings will not be halted due to unilateral decisions by any party, and India has no authority under the treaty to obstruct or suspend arbitration mechanisms. Moreover, the ruling emphasized that undermining the role of arbitration contradicts the treaty’s mandatory dispute resolution framework.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with India on all outstanding issues — including Kashmir, water resources, trade, and terrorism — emphasizing the importance of legal and diplomatic channels in resolving conflicts.
The court’s review highlighted that the Indus Waters Treaty remains fully in effect and enforceable unless both nations agree to suspend it. The decision comes in response to Pakistan’s complaint, filed in 2016, against India’s construction of water storage projects on the western rivers — an act Islamabad argues violates the treaty. Despite India initially requesting neutral expert mediation, it later sought to suspend the court’s proceedings after declaring a unilateral suspension of the treaty — a move now officially rejected by the court.
The Government of Pakistan affirmed its commitment to uphold the treaty and the rule of law through effective international mechanisms, asserting that the arbitral tribunal will continue to play its fair, responsible, and effective role in resolving the dispute.
