Amid growing frustration over India’s sediment release from the Baglihar Dam and the resultant drop in Chenab River water flow, Pakistan is preparing to approach the International Court of Arbitration under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. Officials in Islamabad have indicated that they will file a formal complaint, accusing India of acting unilaterally and causing economic and environmental harm.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This escalation follows Pakistan’s failed efforts to seek resolution through the Permanent Indus Commission. According to Pakistan, India did not notify Islamabad in advance of its actions — a breach of the treaty’s clause requiring consultation before executing projects that may impact downstream flow.
The move to international arbitration is seen as a high-stakes gamble. The process is time-consuming and may not yield immediate results, but Pakistani leaders argue that it’s necessary to prevent a dangerous precedent. “If India is allowed to do this without consequence,” said one water ministry official, “what stops them from doing it again, or worse?”
India, meanwhile, has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Indian officials argue that they are operating within legal bounds and that the treaty explicitly allows for sediment management as long as it doesn’t alter the quantity of water used for consumptive purposes.
The World Bank, which has struggled in recent years to mediate new complaints under the treaty, may again find itself at the center of a geopolitical storm. Analysts suggest the case could redefine how international law treats transboundary river rights in the face of modern challenges.
While legal proceedings begin, the river continues to run dry in parts of Pakistan. Farmers and city officials are calling for interim solutions, including emergency water-sharing agreements. For now, however, both sides appear locked in a legal and diplomatic stalemate with no quick resolution in sight.
