Pakistan will ‘fully participate in Neutral Expert Proceedings’ on IWT: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Wednesday that Pakistan will “fully participate in the Neutral Expert Proceedings” on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) despite India’s decision to stay away from the proceedings initiated on New Delhi’s request.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said that the arbitration was initiated by Pakistan against India under the provisions of the IWT. According to the statement, Pakistan has taken note of the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration, which has offered a helpful clarification on certain aspects of the Court’s “Award on Issues of General Interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty”, published on 8 August 2025.

Pakistan has also taken note of the Procedural Order issued in parallel with the decision, which affirms that the Court will continue to conduct these proceedings in a phased manner and that it will take into account the proceedings taking place before the Neutral Expert under Article IX and Annexure F of the IWT.

The Neutral Expert proceedings were initiated on India’s request, with their next phase scheduled to take place in Vienna from 17-21 November 2025. While India has decided to halt its participation, Pakistan continues to fully participate in the Neutral Expert proceedings in good faith, the statement said. In this regard, the Neutral Expert has ruled that India’s non-participation could not operate as a bar to the proceedings going forward.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025