'No jurisdiction': India rejects 'illegal' Court of Arbitration's Indus Waters Treaty award - timesofindia.indiatimes.com

**India rejects Hague tribunal’s award on Indus Waters Treaty, citing lack of jurisdiction**

New Delhi has formally rejected a recent award issued by a Court of Arbitration in The Hague that ruled India must adjust its water‑release schedule under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The tribunal, constituted under the treaty’s dispute‑resolution mechanism, ordered India to release an additional 1.2 billion cubic metres of water to Pakistan over the next five years, a figure Pakistan argued was required to meet agricultural and domestic needs downstream. India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded that the panel “exceeded its mandate and acted beyond the scope of the treaty”, declaring the decision “illegal” and “without jurisdiction”. The government has urged Pakistan to return to bilateral talks, emphasizing that any future settlement must be reached through the established IWT mechanisms, not through a third‑party court.

Pakistan, for its part, welcomed the award, stating that the tribunal’s findings were based on technical data and the spirit of the treaty, which was designed to ensure equitable water sharing between the two nuclear‑armed neighbours. Pakistani officials pointed to recent drought conditions and declining river flows as evidence that the additional water release is essential for the livelihoods of millions in Punjab and Sindh provinces. In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry urged India to comply with the ruling, warning that non‑compliance could lead to further international arbitration or involvement of the World Bank, which serves as the treaty’s guarantor.

The dispute resurfaces longstanding tensions over water resources that have periodically flared since the IWT’s inception. While the treaty has survived multiple wars and crises, the latest impasse underscores the challenges of interpreting its provisions in a changing climate. Analysts note that prolonged deadlock could strain the bilateral relationship and invite scrutiny from the international community, especially as both nations seek to develop hydro‑electric projects on the Indus system. The Indian government has indicated it will seek a review of the award through diplomatic channels, while Pakistan has signaled readiness to pursue further legal recourse if the matter remains unresolved.

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