Pakistan Proposes Four-Pronged Strategy Regarding Indus Waters Treaty, but Likelihood of Success Questionable

Chillin' in New Delhi: With the Indus Waters Treaty on ice following India's diplomatic moves, Pakistan's water faucet is running dry. Desperate for a solution, the Pakistani government is considering taking India to court. Spitting mad over the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam that targeted innocent tourists, India decided to put the treaty on hold till Pakistan abandons its support for cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan isn't backing down. Aqeel Malik, Pakistan's Minister of State for Law and Justice, has told the media that Islamabad is gaming out several legal options, including taking action at the Permanent Court of Arbitration or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, wherein they could claim India has violated the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties[4]. Further, diplomatic maneuvers are being taken to escalate the matter at the United Nations Security Council[5].

But let's break it down, shall we? Pakistan is swimming in a sea of challenges, seeing as India has made some solid declarations with exceptions to the ICJ[2]. India's lawyer, Dr S Jaishankar, listed 13 exceptions in the ICJ's jurisdiction, including one that applies to "disputes with the government of any State which is or has been a Member of the Commonwealth of Nations." This means Pakistan cannot file a case against India at the ICJ since India's jurisdiction is not valid, making any such move unproductive.

Moreover, the World Bank is sidelined when it comes to dealing with the Indus Waters Treaty. While it brokered the treaty in 1960 as a mediator, it just can't play judge, jury, and executioner. It only appoints neutral experts and arbitration posts, but it's not tasked with managing or enforcing the treaty[6]. So, while the World Bank can offer some advice, its stern reputation as a peacemaker ends there.

But here's the deal -- Pakistan's citizens are knee-deep in a water crisis, and Islamabad is willing to fight tooth and nail to secure a pool of chilled aqua for its teeming millions[1]. In the midst of this stormy situation, it'll be interesting to see how the legal jiu-jitsu unfolds. Keep your eyes peeled, folks!

In other news, a horrifying attack on civilians in Kashmir left 26 innocents dead, and the world is in mourning. Kashmiris are rallying against Pakistani-sponsored terror, along with India's angry masses. Pakistan's resident bad boy, The Resistance Front, a splinter group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, took responsibility for the attack based on religious fervor[3]. It's a football match no one wants to win.

The Indo-Pakistani dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty, following India's decision to put it on hold, has facilitated a ready occasion for Pakistan to consider legal action, potentially at the Permanent Court of Arbitration or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.
The crisis in Kashmir, where a horrifying attack on civilians left 26 innocents dead, is a subject of general news, with both Kashmiris and India's angry masses rallying against Pakistani-sponsored terror.
Despite Pakistan's plans to take India to international courts regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, India's lawyer, Dr S Jaishankar, has listed 13 exceptions in the ICJ's jurisdiction that make it unproductive for Pakistan to file a case since India's jurisdiction is not valid.
The politics surrounding the Indo-Pakistani conflict and the water crisis in Pakistan have been a prime focus in policy-and-legislation discussions, with the Pakistani government ready to take diplomatic actions at the United Nations Security Council.
In the jagged landscape of war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice, the recent terror attack in Kashmir has added another layer of complexity, with a splinter group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, The Resistance Front, taking responsibility for the attack based on religious fervor.