Archive · 23 Sep 2026
India Demands Pakistan Act on Terrorism, Rejects Water Ruling
India says Pakistan must take real and verifiable steps against terrorism before other countries trust its statements.
India also disagrees with Pakistan about a decision involving the Indus Waters Treaty.
India says the arbitration group was created improperly and cannot decide what India does with its water projects.
Pakistan has presented the decision as a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
India and Pakistan have had especially tense relations since the Pahalgam attack in April 2025.
India responded with Operation Sindoor, and the countries reached a ceasefire understanding on May 10.
India is keeping the water treaty suspended until cross-border terrorism stops completely.
The same briefing also discussed missing Indians in Nepal and diplomatic conversations about Ukraine and Bangladesh.
India said Pakistan must take credible action against cross-border terrorism before its claims can gain international trust.
The Ministry of External Affairs rejected Pakistan’s description of an Indus Waters Treaty decision as a valid Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling.
India said the arbitration panel was illegally constituted by the World Bank and had no jurisdiction over India’s sovereign decisions.
The dispute follows the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, India’s Operation Sindoor response, and a ceasefire understanding reached on May 10.
The Ministry of External Affairs also reported forensic work in Nepal, India-Bangladesh diplomatic goals, and talks with Ukraine on the conflict.
- Who
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Pakistan, and officials connected with the Indus Waters Treaty.
- What
- India demanded credible action against cross-border terrorism and rejected Pakistan’s characterization of an arbitration decision on the treaty.
- When
- During a recent Ministry of External Affairs briefing; the article also references decisions announced on August 31 and events from April and May 2025.
- Where
- New Delhi, in statements concerning India-Pakistan relations and the Indus river system.
- Why
- India said Pakistan’s claims should not be trusted without verifiable action against cross-border terrorism and disputed the arbitration panel’s legality and jurisdiction.
India’s Position
Pakistan’s Position
Validity of the water decision
India’s Position
India says the arbitration body was illegally constituted, breached the Indus Waters Treaty, and has no jurisdiction or authority over India.
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan has presented the decision as a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration and circulated related correspondence to the United Nations Security Council president.
Credibility on terrorism
India’s Position
India says Pakistan must take tangible, credible, and verifiable action against cross-border terrorism before its claims can be trusted.
Pakistan’s Position
Pakistan raised a financial bounty for information leading to the apprehension or sentencing of Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar, which India characterized as an insincere gesture.
- India’s terrorism demand
- The Ministry of External Affairs said Pakistan must take credible measures against cross-border terrorism.
- Arbitration dispute
- India rejected Pakistan’s description of the decision as a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
- India’s legal position
- India said the Court of Arbitration was constituted by the World Bank in breach of the Indus Waters Treaty and has no jurisdiction over India’s sovereign decisions.
- Treaty status
- India said the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended until Pakistan completely stops cross-border terrorism.
- Pahalgam attack
- The April 2025 attack in Jammu and Kashmir killed 26 people, according to the article.
- Nepal forensic work
- Indian specialists were processing about 3,000 biological samples and had generated more than 1,200 DNA profiles.
- Ukraine discussions
- S Jaishankar met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, while India reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy are needed for a peaceful resolution.