India Firmly Rejects Court of Arbitration Ruling on Indus Waters Treaty, Affirms Sovereign Stance

NEW DELHI: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a stinging rebuttal on Monday, categorically rejecting a recent ruling by a World Bank-constituted Court of Arbitration regarding the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty. Terming the tribunal an “illegally constituted” body, New Delhi asserted that its decision to keep the treaty in abeyance remains firmly in force.

The diplomatic friction follows a pronouncement by the Court of Arbitration, which argued that the grounds cited by India for suspending the treaty—specifically concerns following the Pahalgam terror attack in April of last year—did not justify its suspension or termination. The court maintained that the treaty remains fully binding and that India must continue to observe its obligations.

“Patent Breach” of Treaty Terms

The MEA’s statement pulled no punches in its dismissal of the ruling, asserting that the World Bank acted in “patent breach of the terms of the Treaty” when it established the arbitral body.

“India has never recognised the existence in law of this illegally-constituted and so-called Court of Arbitration, and has consistently maintained that the very establishment of this alleged arbitral body constitutes a grave violation of the Indus Waters Treaty,” the ministry stated.

The government emphasized that it has refused to take any cognisance of the court’s proceedings, noting that India has never appeared before the body and does not intend to honor its past or future pronouncements.

A Question of Sovereignty

The MEA further clarified that the Court of Arbitration possesses “no jurisdiction whatsoever to pronounce on India’s sovereign decisions.” According to the ministry, the tribunal’s opinions will have no bearing on India’s ongoing infrastructure projects or its broader policy maneuvers related to water management.

This latest development deepens the rift between New Delhi and Islamabad over water-sharing protocols. Since India moved to put the treaty in abeyance, Pakistani leadership has reacted sharply, with various officials labeling the decision an “act of war” and warning that water remains a “red line” for the nation.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the Indian government remains steadfast in its position, signaling that it will prioritize its sovereign national interests over the rulings of a body it deems legally illegitimate.