Pakistan has once again called on India to restore the functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following a supplemental award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged India to comply with its obligations under the 1960 treaty, which governs the sharing of river waters between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“The supplemental award further clarifies India’s treaty responsibilities. We expect India to act in good faith,” said a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
What Is the Indus Waters Treaty?
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, is one of the most successful water-sharing agreements globally. It grants India control over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and Pakistan over the western rivers (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum).
However, Pakistan has raised objections over India’s hydroelectric projects like Kishanganga and Ratle, alleging violations of the treaty.
Hague Court’s Supplemental Award
The PCA’s supplemental ruling reaffirms the earlier judgment that arbitration is the valid mechanism to resolve disputes under IWT. The court rejected India’s objections and allowed proceedings on Pakistan’s concerns regarding upstream projects.
Read the: official PCA statement
What Pakistan Wants Now
Pakistan is asking India to:
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Resume meetings of the Indus Commission
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Share technical project details in advance
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Respect treaty’s dispute-resolution mechanisms
Diplomatic experts warn that long-term delays in IWT dialogue could impact regional water security and peace.
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