India has outrightly rejected the recent decision by the International Court of Arbitration concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that the court lacks the authority to issue such a ruling.

Spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that the court’s decision implied that India must allow water from the western rivers to flow to Pakistan.

In a report by The Indian Express, India emphasised that the court’s ruling has no legal validity and does not impact its rights to water usage.

During a media briefing, Jaiswal remarked, “India has never acknowledged the legal status, jurisdiction, or legitimacy of this so-called arbitration court. Its decisions are beyond jurisdiction, lack legal standing, and are ineffective concerning India’s rights.”

He further dismissed “selective and misleading statements” from Pakistan regarding the ruling. Jaiswal noted that India had previously announced in a press release dated June 27, that the Indus Waters Treaty is suspended under its sovereign policy.

The International Court of Arbitration clarified various aspects of the Indus Waters Treaty in its ruling on August 8, especially concerning the usage of water from the western rivers and India’s plans for new hydropower projects.

India has not engaged in this arbitration process and has been boycotting it since the court’s establishment, despite the court’s assertion that India’s absence does not affect its jurisdiction.

Pakistan welcomed the court’s ruling, claiming that India’s violations of the Indus Waters Treaty are exacerbating water disputes in the region. The ruling addressed the general interpretation of the treaty by the international court.

The court mandated that India must allow the water from the western rivers to flow freely for Pakistan’s benefit.

It also stated that any concessions for hydropower projects must strictly adhere to the treaty’s terms, rather than India’s own interpretations.

Experts warn that India’s position not only undermines the treaty’s spirit but also has the potential to heighten tensions in the region.