Pakistan Hopes India Will Implement Indus Waters Treaty in Good Faith

 Pakistan has expressed hope that India will fulfill its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty in good faith. The 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, is a foundational agreement between Pakistan and India on water sharing and Islamabad remains fully committed to its implementation, including its dispute settlement mechanism.

India, however, believes the initiation of two concurrent processes violates the provision of the three-step graded mechanism prescribed in the pact. The last meeting of the neutral expert took place at the Hague in February and the next is scheduled for September.

India maintains that it will not join the Pakistan-initiated proceedings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration as the dispute is already being examined by a neutral expert.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson has said India cannot be compelled to recognize or participate in illegal and parallel proceedings not envisaged by the treaty.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration has now ruled that it has the competence to consider the dispute and will move forward to address the issues in dispute.

Both India and Pakistan are urged to implement the Indus Waters Treaty in a good faith manner, in order to avoid further tensions between the two countries. The World Bank is also a signatory to the treaty and will continue to monitor the situation.