THE HAGUE: The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague has ruled that India must comply with the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan and limit work on hydroelectric projects in the disputed Kashmir region.
In a significant decision issued on Monday, the arbitration court said India is required to adhere to the treaty governing the sharing of water resources between the two countries.
The court maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty remains fully in force, rejecting the position that India had a legal basis to terminate or suspend the agreement.
The ruling comes amid longstanding disputes between Pakistan and India over the design and operation of Indian hydroelectric projects on rivers covered by the treaty.
The court further noted that a neutral expert appointed by the World Bank will determine by July 2027 whether the construction and design of the hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan region comply with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The decision is being viewed as an important development in the continuing legal and diplomatic dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over water resources and the implementation of the 1960 treaty.
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[…] a unanimous ruling by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague that India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in “abeyance” was not permissible under the treaty or applicable international […]