New Delhi, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India on Monday rejected the latest “award” issued by the “illegally constituted” Court of Arbitration (CoA) concerning interim measures and the status of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), maintaining that the body has no jurisdiction over India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the so-called Court of Arbitration was constituted by the World Bank in violation of the terms of the treaty and reiterated that India does not recognise the body or its pronouncements.
“Today, the illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration (CoA) has issued what it termed as an award concerning Interim Measures and Status of the Indus Waters Treaty. This so-called Court was constituted by the World Bank in patent breach of the terms of the Treaty and India categorically rejects its so-called award, just as it has firmly rejected all prior pronouncements by this illegally constituted body,” the MEA said in a statement.
The ministry said India has consistently maintained that the creation of the alleged arbitral body constitutes a grave violation of the IWT.
“Accordingly, India has never appeared before this body and has refused to take any cognisance of its earlier pronouncements. This so-called Court of Arbitration has no jurisdiction whatsoever to pronounce on India’s sovereign decisions,” it said.
The MEA added that the body’s pronouncements, either now or in the future, would have no bearing on India’s actions concerning projects being undertaken by the country.
India also reiterated that its decision to keep the IWT in abeyance remains in force.
The statement followed the CoA issuing an award concerning the “Status” of the IWT and an order on interim measures related to the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant (RHEP). The court said India must comply with its obligations under the treaty, including provisions governing the design and operation of hydro-electric projects on the Western Rivers.
The IWT was signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960, to govern the utilisation of waters from the Indus river system.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack last year, India announced that it was placing the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ended its support for cross-border terrorism.
In June, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s position, saying the treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan completely stops cross-border terrorism.
“We have suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and kept it in abeyance until Pakistan completely stops cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal had said during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
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