India Rejects World Bank Court's Decision on Indus Waters Treaty, Calls It Illegal India has strongly rejected the decision of the World Bank's Court of Arbitration (CoA) regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it illegal and asserting that the court has no authority over the matter. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the CoA's rulings will not affect India's water projects or its sovereign decisions. The Indian government reiterated its stance that the treaty's suspension remains valid, emphasizing that the court's involvement is a violation of the agreement's terms. The CoA's ruling, issued on August 31, 2026, declared the Indus Waters Treaty fully applicable and demanded that India comply with its obligations. The court criticized India's decision to suspend the treaty, citing the April 22, 2026, attack in Pahalgam as an invalid reason for the suspension. The MEA clarified that India's actions, including the continuation of projects like the Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric Projects in Jammu and Kashmir, are unaffected by the CoA's decision. India's rejection of the CoA's authority stems from its argument that the World Bank violated the treaty's terms by establishing the court. The MEA stated that the court's formation itself constitutes a breach of the agreement, which India has never recognized. The ministry emphasized that India's sovereign decisions on water management are beyond the court's jurisdiction, and any future actions under the treaty will proceed independently of the CoA's rulings. The CoA's ruling also highlighted that India's reasons for suspending the treaty, including security concerns following the Pahalgam attack, do not justify the indefinite halt of the agreement.#ministry_of_externa_affairs #indus_waters_treaty #world_bank_coa #kishanganga_project #ratle_hydroelectric_project
