Pakistan Seeks Talks with India on Indus Waters Treaty Amid Arbitration Verdict

Amid India's tough stance, Pakistan has once again expressed its desire for talks on the Indus Waters Treaty. Based on the verdict of the International Arbitration Tribunal on Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan has appealed to India for constructive and positive dialogue on the issue of water sharing under the 1960 treaty. Pakistan said on Wednesday that India should hold talks within the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty, as it is an international treaty that both countries had taken seriously. According to news agency PTI, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said that the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has reiterated in its verdict that the Indus Waters Treaty remains fully applicable and binding. He said that Pakistan will take all possible steps to implement the verdict and ensure that the treaty is respected. Andrabi's statement comes at a time when India has refused to accept the arbitration court's order cancelling its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, saying that India's right to arbitrate the case is not binding on the territory.