The Permanent Court of Arbitration says India had no grounds to suspend the treaty and imposes interim limits on work at the Ratle hydropower project.
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — WEB DESK: The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between Pakistan and India remains fully in force, rejecting India’s justification for suspending the decades-old water-sharing agreement.
The court also imposed interim restrictions on construction work at India’s Ratle Hydroelectric Plant in the Kashmir region, pending a decision by a neutral expert on whether the project’s design complies with the treaty.
The ruling marks a significant development in the long-running India-Pakistan dispute over the management of the Indus river system.
Court rejects India’s suspension of treaty
The arbitration court examined India’s April 2025 decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in “abeyance” following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, while Islamabad denied the allegation.
The court concluded that the treaty does not provide grounds for either country to unilaterally suspend or terminate the agreement. It therefore determined that the IWT remains fully operational and that India must continue to comply with its obligations under the treaty.
The ruling specifically covers India’s obligations concerning the design and operation of hydroelectric projects on the western rivers covered by the treaty.
Restrictions imposed on Ratle project
The court also granted Pakistan’s request for interim measures concerning the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant.
India has been prohibited from concreting the Ratle dam wall and power intake structure above specified levels until 90 days after the neutral expert issues a final decision, which is expected around July 2027.
The court also ordered India to provide information concerning the project’s construction schedule.
The proceedings concern the design of components of run-of-river hydroelectric projects that India is permitted to build under the treaty on the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers and their tributaries.
The Ratle and Kishenganga projects are also subject to parallel proceedings involving a neutral expert appointed through the World Bank.
Pakistan welcomes ruling
Pakistan welcomed the court’s decision, saying it would carefully examine the details of the award and interim measures.
The government said the ruling could help create a pathway toward renewed engagement between the two countries under the treaty and in accordance with their legal obligations.
Pakistan had initiated the arbitration proceedings in August 2016 under the dispute-resolution mechanism contained in the Indus Waters Treaty.
India rejects Hague court ruling
India, however, has rejected the arbitration process and the court’s authority over the dispute.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the court has no jurisdiction over India’s sovereign decisions and maintained that New Delhi’s decision to keep the treaty in abeyance remains in force.
India has previously argued that the arbitration proceedings and the parallel neutral-expert process are inconsistent with the treaty’s dispute-resolution framework.
The Indian position means the latest ruling is likely to deepen the legal and diplomatic dispute over the future implementation of the treaty.
