Pakistan on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) arbitration process, saying it will continue to participate in the Neutral Expert proceedings in good faith despite India’s withdrawal.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Neutral Expert proceedings were initiated on India’s request, with their next phase scheduled to take place in Vienna from November 17 to 21.

He said while India has decided to halt its participation, Pakistan continues to fully participate in the Neutral Expert proceedings in good faith.

He said the Neutral Expert had ruled that India’s non-participation could not operate as a bar to the proceedings going forward.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said in the context of the arbitration initiated by Pakistan against India under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan has taken note of the recent Decision of the Court of Arbitration which has offered helpful clarification on certain aspects of the Court’s ‘Award on Issues of General Interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty’, published on 8th of August this year.

Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan has also taken note of the Procedural Order issued in parallel with the decision, which affirms that the Court will continue to conduct these proceedings in a phased manner and would take into account the proceedings taking place before the Neutral Expert under Article-IX and Annexure F of the Indus Water Treaty.