New Delhi (India) September 23: India criticised Pakistan over its dissemination of a letter to the UN Security Council concerning a Court of Arbitration ruling on the Indus Waters Treaty, calling the tribunal "illegally constituted" and that Pakistan is propagating falsehoods.

India Rejects Tribunal’s Authority

India has repeatedly disavowed the Court of Arbitration, claiming it was formed in breach of the Indus Waters Treaty and that it had never acknowledged the tribunal or engaged in its activities. It has further argued that the tribunal lacks authority over India's sovereign actions and that its rulings do not influence the way it acts.

“Pakistan has a habit of misrepresenting facts and propagating falsehoods to serve its malicious propaganda. For starters, the so-called ruling is not a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as sought to be projected by the Pakistan minister, but by an illegally constituted court,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“We see this as just one more attempt by Pakistan at distorting the reality. Our position on this issue is very clear and we have reiterated it several times,” he added.

MEA Calls Tribunal Illegal

Last April, India deferred the Indus Waters Treaty after terrorists from across the border targeted Pahalgam, resulting in 26 casualties. Delhi announced that the treaty would be held in abeyance until Pakistan irretrievably terminates its support of terrorism.

On August 31, the Court of Arbitration announced its decision that the Indus Waters Treaty was still valid and that it could not be suspended by India alone. India objected to the Court's decision as 'illegally constituted' and said it did not have jurisdiction over India's sovereign actions.

The MEA said, "Today, the illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration (CoA) has issued what it termed as an award concerning Interim Measures and Status of the Indus Waters Treaty. This so-called court was constituted by the World Bank in patent breach of the terms of the Treaty and India categorically rejects its so-called award, just as it has firmly rejected all prior pronouncements by this illegally constituted body.”

India Seeks Action On Terrorism

At Tuesday's briefing Jaiswal said Pakistan must demonstrate concrete action against cross-border terrorism before being taken seriously.

“Pakistan needs to demonstrate action and firm commitment. And it must take credible action against cross-border terrorism before the world believes it would do what it says,” he said.

Jaiswal's comments followed Pakistan's addition of PKR 20 lakh more to the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar in the latest list of Most Wanted terrorists before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). New Delhi rejected it as a "gimmick" and said Islamabad must move beyond these false announcements to take real action against Azhar.

Pakistan has said Azhar is not in the country and is in Afghanistan. The Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist has been linked to several high-profile terror attacks against India including the 2001 Parliament attack, Pathankot and Pulwama terror strikes.