India has notified Islamabad that it wants the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) modified due to Pakistan's "intransigence" and unilateral acts. Islamabad's refusal to raise the matter with India led to the government's notice, despite the World Bank's request that India and Pakistan find a mutually agreeable solution rather than pursue separate procedures to address Pakistan's concerns about the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in J&K.
The World Bank, is also a signatory to IWT, in October last year appointed not just a neutral expert to examine the issue but also, at Pakistan’s insistence, a court of arbitration chairman, despite acknowledging India’s concern that carrying out the two processes concurrently posed practical and legal challenges.
The case is being heard in The Hague by the court, which Pakistan believes was established in accordance with IWT requirements. India also hopes that the change will result in an upgrade of IWT by taking into account the "lessons learned" over the previous 62 years. India and Pakistan had negotiated for nine years before finally signing in 1960 the IWT, which facilitates cooperation and exchange of information between them for use of river waters. The International War on Terrorism is still regarded as one of the most effective international treaties since it has withstood conflicts, including wars, despite calls for the government to reassess its position in the agreement from many quarters because to Pakistan's support for transnational terrorism.
India has provided Pakistan 90 days to enter into negotiations for rectifying the “material breach” of IWT. While Islamabad had itself requested appointment of a neutral expert in 2015 to examine the designs of the projects, a year later it proposed to World Bank that a court of arbitration look into its objections instead.
