India on Tuesday, 22nd September, hit back at Pakistan over its decision to circulate a letter to the UN Security Council regarding a recent pronouncement by the Court of Arbitration linked to the Indus Waters Treaty. New Delhi rejected Pakistan’s claims and said the tribunal was “illegally constituted”.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal accused Pakistan of misrepresenting facts and using the issue for propaganda.
“Pakistan has a habit of misrepresenting facts and propagating falsehoods to serve its malicious propaganda,” Jaiswal said during the weekly briefing. He also questioned Pakistan’s description of the tribunal’s pronouncement.
“For starters, the so-called ruling is not a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as sought to be projected by the Pakistan minister, but by an illegally constituted court,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Pakistan has circulated a letter to the President of the UN Security Council regarding the recent rulings by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Pakistan has a habit of misrepresenting facts and propagating… pic.twitter.com/TetA5xu5WH
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2026
Jaiswal added, “We see this as just one more attempt by Pakistan at distorting the reality. Our position on this issue is very clear, and we have reiterated it several times.”
India’s stand on the Court of Arbitration
India has repeatedly stated that it does not recognise the Court of Arbitration and has not participated in its proceedings. New Delhi maintains that the body was created in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty and therefore has no jurisdiction over India’s decisions.
On 31st August, the Court of Arbitration issued an award saying that the Indus Waters Treaty remained in force and that India could not unilaterally place it in abeyance. India rejected the award immediately, maintaining that the tribunal had no authority to rule on its decision.
The MEA has also said that India has never appeared before the body or accepted its earlier pronouncements.
India asks Pakistan to take ‘credible action’ against terrorism
During Tuesday’s briefing, Jaiswal also said Pakistan needed to show concrete action against cross-border terrorism before its statements could be taken seriously.
“Pakistan needs to demonstrate action and firm commitment. And it must take credible action against cross-border terrorism before the world believes it would do what it says,” he said.
Why India put the treaty in abeyance
India announced that it was keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance in April 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. New Delhi has maintained that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible and irreversible steps to end support for cross-border terrorism.
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty governs the sharing and use of the waters of the Indus River system between India and Pakistan.
India’s latest remarks came amid continuing disagreements between the two countries over the Indus Waters Treaty and the authority of the Court of Arbitration. New Delhi has made clear that it continues to reject the tribunal’s jurisdiction and maintains its position that the treaty remains in abeyance.
