India Rejects Arbitration Court Summons on Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan Faces Growing Pressure

The longstanding dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan has intensified, with India taking a firm stance against the arbitration process. New Delhi has outrightly refused to comply with the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) orders in The Hague, calling the tribunal illegal.

India Refuses to Share Data or Recognize Tribunal Authority

The PCA had last week summoned India to provide sensitive operational records and data related to the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. India, however, has rejected the request, asserting that it will neither participate in the proceedings nor comply with the tribunal’s supplementary award.

According to government sources cited by News18, the Ministry of External Affairs formally informed the PCA that India does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction. Officials emphasized that the formation of a parallel arbitration tribunal during the ongoing Neutral Expert process violates the dispute resolution framework of the IWT.

A senior official told CNN-News18:

“Until our core security concerns are addressed and Pakistan stops supporting cross-border terrorism, India is under no obligation to fulfill any treaty obligations. This includes sharing hydrological data or participating in arbitration.”

Pakistan Appeals to the World, Warns of Conflict

Pakistan has raised the IWT issue at the United Nations and other international forums, urging global intervention. Islamabad has described India’s refusal as an “act of war” and warned of potential consequences.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the sharing of six rivers in the Indus basin between India and Pakistan. India’s recent move follows the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, after which New Delhi announced the suspension of certain IWT obligations. The decision has put Pakistan at risk of a serious water crisis.