The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled that India must continue to comply with the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
The court said the decades-old water-sharing agreement remains fully in force. It also rejected India’s position that it could unilaterally suspend or terminate the treaty.
The ruling comes amid an ongoing dispute between Pakistan and India over several hydropower projects in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The court also ordered India to limit construction work on the Ratle hydroelectric project while it assesses the treaty-related dispute.
Court Rejects India’s Unilateral Suspension
The Hague-based court said India had no legal basis to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance through unilateral action.
The decision supports Pakistan’s position that the treaty remains binding on both countries.
A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank will now examine whether the disputed hydropower projects meet the treaty’s requirements.
The expert is expected to complete the assessment by July 2027.
Pakistan Welcomes the Ruling
Pakistan welcomed the decision and said it confirms the continued validity of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The country has maintained that India cannot suspend or terminate the agreement on its own.
Signed in 1960, the treaty governs the sharing of the Indus river system between Pakistan and India.
The agreement has remained in place despite decades of political tensions and several wars between the two countries.
Pakistan said the latest ruling strengthens the legal framework governing water sharing between the two sides.
India Rejects the Decision
India has rejected Monday’s ruling and said it does not recognize the Court of Arbitration’s jurisdiction over the dispute.
New Delhi has previously challenged the arbitration process and questioned the court’s authority to examine the matter.
However, legal experts have said that India’s position does not change the treaty’s legal status.
The ruling is likely to further intensify the long-running dispute between Pakistan and India over water resources and hydropower projects.
For Pakistan, the decision provides further legal backing for its position that the Indus Waters Treaty remains valid, operative and binding.
Hague Court Rules India Must Continue to Follow Indus Waters Treaty
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled that India must continue to comply with the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
The court said the decades-old water-sharing agreement remains fully in force. It also rejected India’s position that it could unilaterally suspend or terminate the treaty.
The ruling comes amid an ongoing dispute between Pakistan and India over several hydropower projects in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The court also ordered India to limit construction work on the Ratle hydroelectric project while it assesses the treaty-related dispute.
Court Rejects India’s Unilateral Suspension
The Hague-based court said India had no legal basis to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance through unilateral action.
The decision supports Pakistan’s position that the treaty remains binding on both countries.
A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank will now examine whether the disputed hydropower projects meet the treaty’s requirements.
The expert is expected to complete the assessment by July 2027.
Pakistan Welcomes the Ruling
Pakistan welcomed the decision and said it confirms the continued validity of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The country has maintained that India cannot suspend or terminate the agreement on its own.
Signed in 1960, the treaty governs the sharing of the Indus river system between Pakistan and India.
The agreement has remained in place despite decades of political tensions and several wars between the two countries.
Pakistan said the latest ruling strengthens the legal framework governing water sharing between the two sides.
India Rejects the Decision
India has rejected Monday’s ruling and said it does not recognize the Court of Arbitration’s jurisdiction over the dispute.
New Delhi has previously challenged the arbitration process and questioned the court’s authority to examine the matter.
However, legal experts have said that India’s position does not change the treaty’s legal status.
The ruling is likely to further intensify the long-running dispute between Pakistan and India over water resources and hydropower projects.
For Pakistan, the decision provides further legal backing for its position that the Indus Waters Treaty remains valid, operative and binding.
