ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has called on India to immediately resume the full implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague issued a supplemental award, rejecting India’s suspension of the treaty and confirming the court’s authority to proceed with arbitration.
The decision came as a response to India’s move to unilaterally place the IWT in abeyance following a deadly attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan without presenting evidence. Pakistan dismissed the move as unlawful and warned that suspending water rights under the treaty could be seen as an “act of war.”
The PCA, in its ruling on June 27, reaffirmed that the treaty remains valid and operational, stating that no provision allows unilateral suspension. It clarified that the treaty can only be terminated with mutual consent, and India’s attempt to halt ongoing dispute resolution violated both the spirit and the framework of the IWT.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office welcomed the supplemental award, stating it vindicated Islamabad’s position and emphasized that India must honour its treaty obligations. Officials also noted that the court’s jurisdiction remains intact, and a decision on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects will follow.
Meanwhile, India rejected the PCA’s decision, calling it “illegal and void,” and denied the legitimacy of the arbitration body. In contrast, Pakistan urged India to return to meaningful dialogue on all issues, including water, Kashmir, and cross-border tensions, echoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier calls for comprehensive talks.