AMSTERDAM(Reuters)-The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) dismissed India’s objections on Thursday regarding a water use procedure initiated by Pakistan concerning the Indus River basin. This decision reopens a procedure that had remained blocked for a significant period.
India contended that the arbitration proceedings were illegal, as a neutral expert was simultaneously examining the issue and the World Bank-brokered treaty explicitly prohibits parallel proceedings.
For decades, the South Asian nations have engaged in disputes over hydroelectric projects situated along the shared Indus River and its tributaries. Pakistan has expressed concerns that India’s proposed hydropower dams in upstream regions will diminish water flow in the river, which serves as a vital source for 80% of its irrigated agriculture.
Pakistan welcomed the ruling, considering it a positive step towards resolving disputes with India. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, expressed in a statement that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) holds great significance as a foundational agreement for water sharing between Pakistan and India. She reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the treaty’s implementation, including its mechanism for resolving disputes. Baloch expressed hope that India would also honor the treaty in good faith.
