India Dismisses Indus Waters Treaty Arbitration Court as Illegal

India's Firm Stance on Indus Waters Treaty

On Friday, India officially rejected the legitimacy of the Court of Arbitration established under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, labeling it as illegal. The Indian government stated that it does not recognize this court as an authoritative body.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed, "Today, the so-called Court of Arbitration, which was allegedly formed under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, has issued what it refers to as a 'supplemental award' regarding its jurisdiction over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. India has never acknowledged the legal standing of this so-called Court of Arbitration, and we maintain that its formation constitutes a significant violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. Therefore, any proceedings or decisions made by this court are deemed illegal and void. Consequently, India categorically rejects this supplemental award, just as it has dismissed all previous declarations from this body."

Water Diversion Plans for Indian States

In a related development, sources indicated that the Indian government plans to redirect water allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty for use in four Indian states: Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. The Jal Shakti Ministry is expediting infrastructure projects to facilitate this initiative.

The ministry's objective is to ensure that no water designated for Pakistan is wasted, instead utilizing it to alleviate water shortages in the aforementioned states. This move is expected to significantly benefit these regions.

This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that "Desh ka pani desh ke haq me bahega" ("India's water will flow in India's favor"). The Jal Shakti Ministry is advancing this agenda under the oversight of Home Minister Amit Shah.