New Delhi, May 16: New Delhi on Saturday rejected the latest award issued by the so-called Court of Arbitration on the Indus Waters Treaty dispute with Pakistan, asserting that the tribunal itself was “illegally constituted” and that all its proceedings and decisions were “null and void”.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the tribunal had issued what it termed an award on “maximum pondage supplemental to the award on issues of general interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty” on May 15.
“The illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration (CoA) has, on 15 May 2026, issued what it termed an award concerning maximum pondage supplemental to the award on issues of general interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty,” spokesperson said.
“India categorically rejects the present so-called award, just as it has firmly rejected all prior pronouncements of the illegally constituted CoA,” he added.
Reiterating India’s long-standing stand on the matter, the MEA spokesperson said, “India has never recognised the establishment of this so-called CoA. Any proceeding, award, or decision issued by it is null and void. India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains in force.”
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, governs the sharing of waters of six rivers of the Indus basin, Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The Permanent Court of Arbitration, headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, had constituted the Court of Arbitration to examine disputes linked to the treaty. However, New Delhi has consistently refused to participate in the proceedings, arguing that the arbitration mechanism violates the dispute resolution framework of the treaty. New Delhi has repeatedly maintained that any pronouncement made by the tribunal lacks legal validity and is not binding on India.
