Pakistan to continue Indus waters proceedings despite India’s withdrawal

KARACHI: Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by announcing that it will continue to fully participate in the Neutral Expert proceedings despite India’s withdrawal from the process. The next phase of hearings is scheduled to take place in Vienna from November 17 to 21, 2025, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday.
“The Neutral Expert proceedings were initiated on India’s request, with their next phase scheduled in Vienna. While India has decided to halt its participation, Pakistan continues to fully participate in good faith,” said Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in the treaty.
The spokesperson noted that the Neutral Expert had ruled that India’s non-participation “could not operate as a bar to the proceedings going forward,” allowing the process to continue as scheduled.
He added that in parallel to the Neutral Expert case, the Court of Arbitration had also issued a procedural order affirming that its own hearings-initiated by Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty-would continue in a phased manner, taking into account the proceedings underway before the Neutral Expert.
Pakistan, he said, welcomed the recent Decision of the Court of Arbitration, which provided further clarity on the interpretation of key treaty provisions outlined in its earlier award issued on August 8, 2025.
The Foreign Office underlined that Pakistan’s consistent participation in both legal forums demonstrates its “good faith and adherence to international law,” while India’s unilateral disengagement undermines the cooperative spirit of the 1960 treaty, which has long been hailed as one of the world’s most successful water-sharing frameworks.
Diplomatic observers have described Pakistan’s approach as “principled and responsible,” emphasizing that Islamabad’s continued legal and diplomatic engagement contrasts sharply with India’s attempt to delay or derail the treaty’s mechanisms.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs water sharing between the two countries and provides mechanisms for arbitration and expert review in case of disputes. The current proceedings center on India’s hydropower projects-such as Kishanganga and Ratle-on western rivers allocated to Pakistan, which Islamabad maintains violate the treaty’s provisions.
Officials said Pakistan will continue to defend its water rights through the established legal mechanisms and called upon the World Bank to fulfill its role as guarantor of the treaty.
“Pakistan remains committed to peaceful dispute resolution and will pursue its case within the framework of international law,” the Foreign Office said, adding that the outcome of the Vienna proceedings will be crucial for the future of transboundary water cooperation in South Asia.