New Delhi: Pakistan has welcomed the design criteria explaining an international court verdict for the new run-off-river hydropower projects on Western rivers (Chenab, Jhelum and Indus), which is created by India, saying that it reflects its position on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which India has placed in an abscess after the Pahalgam Attack.However, India never recognized the permanent court as the arbitration, which reportedly ruled that India should “flow” the water of Western rivers for the unrestricted use of Pakistan. India has focused on neutral expert mechanisms instead.Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Monday, “The exceptions specified for the generation of hydro-electric plants should be in line with the requirements prescribed in the treaty, rather than that India can consider a ‘ideal’ or ‘best practices’ approach.”While India’s official response is expected on Wednesday, sources recalled that it had earlier notified the IWT amendment, which was between the long -term controversies and the retail projects in J&K. India never accepted the decision of the World Bank to activate the neutral experts simultaneously and on the insistence of Pakistan, in the court of mediation on the same issues – for this reason the controversy resolution process of the treaty was sought to reconsider.In October 2022, the World Bank, despite accepting India’s concerns, appointed both a neutral expert and the court of arbitration that concurrent proceedings faced practical and legal challenges.After Monday’s decision, Pakistan reiterated its commitment to implement the IWT and urged India to resume its functioning. India maintains that IWT will remain sudden until Pakistan takes action against terrorism across the border.
