India Disavows Arbitration Court’s Authority in Indus Waters Treaty Dispute

India has officially rejected the legitimacy of the Court of Arbitration formed under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, declaring it ‘illegal.’ The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that India does not recognize the authority of this court. The MEA addressed a recent ‘supplemental award’ issued by the court concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. India considers the court’s establishment as a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, rendering all its proceedings and decisions invalid. Consequently, India has rejected the ‘supplemental award’ along with previous pronouncements. In a related development, the Indian government is set to divert water allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty for use in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. The Jal Shakti Ministry is accelerating infrastructure development to implement this plan, ensuring the diverted water meets the needs of these states. This move reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to utilizing India’s water resources within the country.