India Holds Firm Against International Court Order On Indus Waters Treaty
Even as a Court of Arbitration in The Hague presses ahead with fresh hearings and document orders under the Indus Waters Treaty framework, India has made it clear that it does not recognise the legitimacy of these proceedings and will not participate.
The latest flashpoint is an order issued last week by the Court of Arbitration (CoA) constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), directing that operational “pondage logbooks” from Indian hydroelectric plants be produced as part of what it calls the “Second Phase on the Merits”.
The Court has fixed hearings for February 2-3 at the Peace Palace in The Hague and noted that India has not filed any counter-memorial or indicated participation.
For New Delhi, however, this entire exercise is moot.
Government sources told that the “so-called illegally constituted” CoA continues to “hold parallel proceedings (in addition to the neutral expert). Since we do not recognise the legitimacy of the CoA, we do not respond to any of its communications.”
