Indus Water Treaty arbitration proceedings unaffected by India’s non-participation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken note of the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration in the arbitration proceedings initiated against India under the Indus Waters Treaty, saying that the decision has provided useful clarification on certain aspects of the Court’s award issued on August 8, 2025, regarding the general interpretation of the treaty.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan has also taken note of the procedural orders issued along with the decision, which clarify that the Court will proceed with the proceedings in a phased manner and will also take into account the proceedings before the neutral expert under Article 9 and Annex F.

The statement added that the proceedings of the neutral expert were initiated at the request of India and their next phase will be held in Vienna from November 17 to 21, 2025. However, India has stopped pursuing these proceedings, despite which Pakistan is participating in the proceedings of the Neutral Expert in good faith.

According to the Foreign Office, the Neutral Expert has made it clear in its decision that India’s non-participation will not cause any hindrance in the continuation of the proceedings, and this process will continue.

Earlier in June 2025, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah had said that India will never restore the Indus Waters Treaty with Islamabad, and the water flowing to Pakistan will be diverted for internal use.

India put into “abeyance” its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the usage of the Indus river system, after 26 civilians in Indian-Occupied Kashmir were killed in what Delhi described as an act of terror. The treaty had guaranteed water access for 80 per cent of Pakistan’s farms through three rivers originating in India.

Pakistan has denied involvement in the incident, but the accord remains dormant despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May 2025 following their worst fighting in decades.