Indus Waters Treaty: Modi-govt refuses to accept validity of Court of Arbitration, says 'new drama...'
(File)
New Delhi: Indus Waters Treaty: India has refused to accept the validity of the Court of Arbitration created under the Indus Water Treaty. This court had issued a supplemental award on its ability to hear cases related to Kishanganga and Ratle projects in Jammu and Kashmir. What is India's position
India has opposed the proceedings of this court set up by the World Bank in The Hague in October 2022 from the very beginning. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Friday, June 27, calling it a 'new drama done at the behest of Pakistan'. India has said that this is an attempt by Pakistan to escape its responsibility in the matter of terrorism.
The Ministry of External Affairs said, 'India has never accepted this so-called Court of Arbitration. India's simple stand is that any such so-called institution is in itself a serious violation of the Indus Water Treaty and any proceedings on this forum are completely illegal.'
This court had said on Thursday, June 26, that India's decision to suspend the treaty cannot deprive it of its 'capacity'. What are Kishanganga and Ratle projects
It is also important to mention here that India is constructing the Kishanganga project on Kishanganga, a tributary of Jhelum, and the Ratle project on the Chenab river. In 2015, Pakistan had objected to the design of these projects and approached the World Bank and sought the appointment of a neutral expert. But in 2016, Pakistan withdrew this request and sought a Court of Arbitration.
On October 13, 2022, the World Bank appointed Michel Lino as a neutral expert and also created the Court of Arbitration. India has continuously opposed the proceedings of this court since then. Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorism
The Foreign Ministry has also said that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India has exercised its rights as a sovereign nation under international laws and has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. India has said that as long as Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism, this treaty will remain suspended. Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty
It is important to remind that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Modi government had decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. After Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in his address to the nation that water and blood cannot flow together. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960.
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