Despite Pakistan’s assurance of adherence: India boycotts Vienna IWT proceedings

ISLAMABAD: India has announced its boycott of Vienna proceedings contrary to Pakistan’s assurance that it would truthfully abide by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by engaging in the Neutral Expert proceedings from November 17-21.

New Delhi’s plea is that since it has put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, it won’t participate in the proceedings.

In a statement, the Foreign Office pointed out that these proceedings were initiated at India’s request and now the Neutral Expert had ruled that India’s non-participation could not stop the proceedings.

The statement stressed that Pakistan had taken note of the Procedural Order issued by the Court of Arbitration in parallel with its latest decision.

The order affirms that the court will continue to conduct arbitration in a phased manner while taking into account the Neutral Expert proceedings under Article IX and Annexure F of the IWT.

Pakistan had also noted November 8, 2025 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), offering helpful clarifications on aspects of the court’s earlier award on Issues of General Interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty, published on August 8, 2025.

The PCA explained that the court’s clarifications cover the scope of Paragraph 8(a) of Annexure D, confirming that the prohibition extends to all design components capable of artificially raising water levels beyond the Full Pondage Level. It also affirmed that these design criteria are mandatory at the planning stage of such projects and cannot be replaced by operational restraints.

In a Procedural Order issued alongside the clarification, the court confirmed that it would continue to handle proceedings in stages, bearing in mind developments before the Neutral Expert.

The parties were invited to submit written observations on the status of the Neutral Expert process and views on possible further phases of arbitration.

The court’s latest decision follows its August 2025 award, which interpreted key provisions of the Treaty, including Article III and Annexure D, governing India’s hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.