India rejects PCA order on Indus Waters Treaty suspension
India has formally rejected an order by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that set aside New Delhi’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The government asserted that the arbitral body was “illegally constituted” and lacked jurisdiction to review India’s sovereign decision on the treaty. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with World Bank mediation, governs the sharing of the Indus river system waters. India’s decision to suspend certain treaty obligations came in the backdrop of heightened tensions and long-standing disputes over Pakistan’s objections to Indian hydropower projects. The PCA order reportedly aimed to reopen questions around the legality of India’s actions and treaty interpretation. India’s rejection signals its intent to rely on its own reading of treaty provisions and dispute-resolution mechanisms. The development adds a new layer of complexity to India–Pakistan water diplomacy and may impact future river-management projects.
Try the question
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, which set of rivers is primarily allocated to Pakistan?
Answer: (c) Indus, Jhelum, Chenab
The correct answer is (c) Indus, Jhelum, Chenab.