Stop stonewalling talks on Indus treaty
The neutral expert’s ruling this week that he is competent to adjudicate on the issue is a vindication of India’s position
India has for long contended that disputes with Pakistan over hydropower projects on shared trans-border rivers should be handled through a graded approach as provided under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Pakistan, however, resorted to the unprecedented step of both seeking a World Bank-appointed neutral expert and approaching the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague to deal with disputes over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. The neutral expert’s ruling this week that he is competent to adjudicate on the issue is a vindication of India’s position. India has not participated in the proceedings at the Court of Arbitration and has taken a consistent position that the neutral expert’s decision should be awaited before taking recourse to other approaches included in the graded mechanism under the Indus Waters Treaty for handling disputes.

India also gave notice to Pakistan last year about its intention to review and modify the 62-year-old treaty because of the neighbouring country’s intransigence in handling disputes related to the sharing of waters of cross-border rivers. This process and the disputes over the two hydropower projects are continuing at a time when relations between the two countries are at possibly their lowest point. At a time when the climate crisis is wreaking havoc on glaciers and river flows, countries should be doubling down on joint efforts to handle ecological issues, including the management of cross-border rivers. The Indus Waters Treaty is undoubtedly the most durable agreement between the South Asian rivals, though it has become vulnerable to subcontinental tensions. Grandstanding on such a sensitive matter will not advance Pakistan’s interests.
