NEW DELHI: Days after India formally sought a review of the 64-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Pakistan reaffirmed the agreement's importance, expressing hope that New Delhi would continue to adhere to its provisions.
The comments came on Thursday from Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in response to India's August 30 notice requesting a review of the longstanding water-sharing pact.
"Pakistan considers the Indus Water Treaty as an important one and hopes that India will also comply with its provisions," Baloch said during a press briefing. She highlighted that both nations have a mechanism in place—the Indus Water Commissioners—through which issues concerning the treaty can be addressed.
India’s notice, issued on August 30, cited "fundamental and unforeseen" changes in circumstances, including the impact of persistent cross-border terrorism , as grounds for a comprehensive review of the treaty.
The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, governs the use of cross-border rivers between the two countries and has withstood decades of tensions, including wars.
This is not the first time India has sought a review of the treaty. In January 2023, New Delhi issued a similar notice, citing Pakistan's failure to cooperate in its implementation.
According to PTI sources, the recent notice builds on this earlier one and reflects India’s concerns over various issues, including demographic changes, environmental challenges, and the need to accelerate clean energy development to meet its emission targets.
India has also raised concerns about the implications of cross-border terrorism, with officials suggesting that the treaty's provisions require updating to reflect new security realities. The review request is in view of India’s dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s handling of disputes related to the treaty, particularly over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
The World Bank , which is a signatory to the treaty, appointed a neutral expert and established a Court of Arbitration to resolve differences over the projects. New Delhi has since expressed frustration over the World Bank’s decision, arguing that the initiation of two concurrent processes violates the treaty's prescribed dispute resolution mechanism.
The comments came on Thursday from Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in response to India's August 30 notice requesting a review of the longstanding water-sharing pact.
"Pakistan considers the Indus Water Treaty as an important one and hopes that India will also comply with its provisions," Baloch said during a press briefing. She highlighted that both nations have a mechanism in place—the Indus Water Commissioners—through which issues concerning the treaty can be addressed.
India’s notice, issued on August 30, cited "fundamental and unforeseen" changes in circumstances, including the impact of persistent cross-border terrorism , as grounds for a comprehensive review of the treaty.
The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, governs the use of cross-border rivers between the two countries and has withstood decades of tensions, including wars.
This is not the first time India has sought a review of the treaty. In January 2023, New Delhi issued a similar notice, citing Pakistan's failure to cooperate in its implementation.
According to PTI sources, the recent notice builds on this earlier one and reflects India’s concerns over various issues, including demographic changes, environmental challenges, and the need to accelerate clean energy development to meet its emission targets.
India has also raised concerns about the implications of cross-border terrorism, with officials suggesting that the treaty's provisions require updating to reflect new security realities. The review request is in view of India’s dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s handling of disputes related to the treaty, particularly over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
The World Bank , which is a signatory to the treaty, appointed a neutral expert and established a Court of Arbitration to resolve differences over the projects. New Delhi has since expressed frustration over the World Bank’s decision, arguing that the initiation of two concurrent processes violates the treaty's prescribed dispute resolution mechanism.
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