Pakistan Must Act on Cross-Border Terrorism Before World Believes Its Claims: MEA

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses a media briefing in New Delhi. India has called on Pakistan to take credible action against cross-border terrorism while rejecting Islamabad’s portrayal of a recent arbitration decision concerning the Indus Waters Treaty. Photo: Social Media/MEA.

India rejects Pakistan’s portrayal of Indus Waters Treaty arbitration decision, says Islamabad must demonstrate credible action against cross-border terrorism

Key Highlights

• MEA says Pakistan must take credible action against cross-border terrorism before its assertions gain international credibility.
• India rejects Pakistan’s description of a recent Indus Waters Treaty arbitration decision as a ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
• MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says India regards the body concerned as an “illegally constituted court.”
• New Delhi continues to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance over cross-border terrorism.
• India had earlier dismissed Pakistan’s PKR 70 lakh bounty announcement concerning Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a “phoney” move.
• MEA says 275 Indian nationals remain missing in Nepal, with forensic identification work continuing.

New Delhi: India has said Pakistan must demonstrate credible action against cross-border terrorism before expecting the international community to place confidence in its claims, as New Delhi strongly rejected Islamabad’s portrayal of a recent arbitration decision concerning the Indus Waters Treaty on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 .

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal accused Pakistan of misrepresenting facts while responding to Islamabad’s claims regarding the arbitration proceedings.

“Pakistan has a habit of misrepresenting facts and propagating falsehoods to serve its malicious propaganda,” Jaiswal said.

He disputed Pakistan’s description of the decision as a ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“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. It is a ruling by an illegally constituted court,” Jaiswal said, describing the episode as another attempt by Pakistan to distort reality.

Terrorism Remains at the Centre of India’s Position

The latest remarks reinforce New Delhi’s position that Pakistan must take verifiable action against cross-border terrorism.

India’s relations with Pakistan deteriorated sharply following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. India subsequently launched Operation Sindoor, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure. Military exchanges followed before an understanding to halt military action was reached on May 10, 2025.

The MEA has also questioned Pakistan’s recent announcement increasing the bounty on UN-listed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar to PKR 70 lakh. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency listed Azhar as a fugitive in its updated Red Book.

Jaiswal last week described the announcement as a “gimmick” and called for tangible action against terrorism rather than what the ministry characterised as symbolic announcements.

India Rejects Arbitration Body’s Authority

The Indus Waters Treaty has emerged as another major point of contention between New Delhi and Islamabad.

India has rejected pronouncements by the arbitration mechanism invoked by Pakistan and maintains that the body was constituted contrary to the provisions of the treaty. New Delhi has also maintained that it does not recognise the body’s jurisdiction over India’s decisions concerning projects covered by the water-sharing arrangement.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, governs the sharing of waters of the Indus river system.

India has kept the treaty in abeyance, linking any resumption of cooperation under the arrangement to an end to cross-border terrorism.

India Seeks Constructive Relations With Bangladesh

On Bangladesh, Jaiswal reiterated New Delhi’s stated preference for positive and forward-looking relations with Dhaka, saying India seeks constructive cooperation with its eastern neighbour.

275 Indians Still Missing After Nepal Floods

The MEA also provided an update on Indian nationals affected by the devastating floods in Nepal. Jaiswal said 275 Indian nationals remain missing and that an Indian forensic team is working alongside Nepalese experts in Kathmandu to assist in identifying victims.

According to the latest MEA update, the forensic teams have been working with thousands of samples and have generated around 1,200 DNA profiles as part of the identification process.

India has remained in coordination with Nepalese authorities as identification and recovery efforts continue.