Pakistan Welcomes Indus Waters Treaty Award

Pakistan has expressed its approval of the Supplemental Award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), asserting that India cannot unilaterally halt the agreement.

In a formal statement, the Pakistani government reaffirmed its dedication to resolving the matter within the IWT’s established structure. They also emphasized the necessity for revitalized diplomatic discussions between the two nations.

The arbitration court’s decision substantiated that unilateral actions by India would not compromise the authority of either the court of arbitration or the Neutral Expert in proceedings related to the IWT.

The statement declared that the Court has confirmed its jurisdiction considering recent events, and that unilateral measures by India cannot strip the Court or the Neutral Expert of their ability to judge the issues at hand.

The declaration further mentioned that the main objective is for India and Pakistan to re-establish meaningful communication, specifically concerning the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a speech on June 24, also signaled a desire for improved relations with New Delhi, stating Pakistan’s readiness to participate in substantial discussions with India on all unresolved issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, water resources, trade, and terrorism.

The arbitration court’s Supplemental Award reaffirms its jurisdiction in the ongoing arbitration that Pakistan initiated against India under the IWT.

The ruling addresses current developments, notably India’s declaration in April 2025 that the treaty would be temporarily suspended.

The unanimous ruling, issued on June 27, 2025, which is definitively binding on both parties, verified that India’s independent choice to put the Treaty in abeyance does not impact the Court’s ability to make a judgment on the matter.

Formal arbitration proceedings between Pakistan and India, as per the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), commenced at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague after Pakistan’s formal request on August 19, 2016, for the establishment of a court.

The legal proceedings were initiated according to Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, which offers a structure for resolving disputes pertaining to water-related matters between the two countries.