THE recent Supplemental Award issued by the Court of Arbitration in the case initiated by Pakistan against India concerning the Kishanganga and Rattle hydroelectric projects, represents a decisive and long-overdue legal affirmation of Pakistan’s principled position on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The ruling has unequivocally reinforced that no party, under any circumstance, has the authority to unilaterally suspend or disrupt the treaty’s dispute resolution mechanism.
This affirmation is more than a technical clarification; it is a powerful vindication of Pakistan’s longstanding stance that the IWT remains legally binding, operational and inviolable. We believe it is an important development that exposes India’s wrongful actions and strengthens Pakistan’s legal and moral case. This interpretation is fully consistent with the treaty’s object and purpose: to ensure the equitable and peaceful management of shared water resources. Unfortunately, India has repeatedly demonstrated a troubling pattern of disregarding international agreements and norms. Whether through its actions in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir or its handling of transboundary water agreement, India’s repeated violations of international laws show that it cannot be trusted to respect legal obligations. Pakistan has made its position crystal clear: it will not abandon its rightful share of the Indus waters. The Indus River system is the lifeline of our agriculture, economy and national survival. India’s attempts to weaponize water cannot and will not be tolerated. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, while addressing an event at the Institute of Strategic Studies, articulated the collective will of the nation. He made it clear that Pakistan will not allow India to hold its population hostage by manipulating river flows. His words echoed a firm and unified national resolve: we seek peace and legal cooperation—but not at the cost of our sovereignty or survival. It is now imperative for the world community—especially stakeholders such as the World Bank, the United Nations and global powers that champion international law—to step forward. Silence or inaction in the face of treaty violations will only embolden more transgressions, jeopardizing peace and setting dangerous precedents for international water-sharing frameworks worldwide.
