India rejects Indus Waters arbitration ruling as 'illegally constituted'

India today (31 August) rejected a ruling by the Court of Arbitration on the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, calling the body "illegally constituted" and saying the decision would have no bearing on India's sovereign actions.

In a statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said its decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance "will remain in force".

"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.

India has never recognised the legal existence of the Court of Arbitration and has consistently maintained that its establishment violates the Indus Waters Treaty, the ministry said.

"Accordingly, India has never appeared before this body and has refused to take any cognisance of its earlier pronouncements," it said.

The ministry further said the Court of Arbitration had no jurisdiction to rule on India's sovereign decisions.

"Its pronouncements, now or in the future, will have no effect on India's actions in connection with the projects being undertaken by India," the statement said.

The rejection came after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force and that India had no valid grounds to suspend it. The court also ordered limits on construction work at the Ratle hydroelectric project pending assessment by a neutral expert appointed through the World Bank.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the sharing and use of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan.

India's position is consistent with its longstanding refusal to participate in the arbitration proceedings. The Permanent Court of Arbitration has previously said the Court of Arbitration was properly constituted and competent to hear Pakistan's case.