Pakistan Welcomes Hague Court Ruling Upholding Indus Waters Treaty

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has welcomed 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 law.

In a press release, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the Court of Arbitration had issued its Award on the Status of the Indus Waters Treaty and its Decision on Interim Measures to the parties.

The detailed award and decision have not yet been published by the court and are expected to be made public within the next week or so, according to the government.

The court concluded unanimously that India’s decision to put the treaty in abeyance was not permissible under the treaty or other applicable rules of international law. It consequently determined that the Indus Waters Treaty has neither been terminated nor suspended and remains fully in force.

The ruling further establishes that India remains bound by its obligations under the treaty, including provisions governing the design and operation of hydroelectric projects on the Western Rivers and the treaty’s dispute-settlement mechanisms.

Pakistan welcomed the court’s findings, describing the ruling as an important development in the long-running dispute over the implementation of the treaty.

Court Orders Interim Measures on Hydroelectric Project

The Court of Arbitration also unanimously ordered interim measures concerning India’s RHEP dam and power intake structure.

According to the Pakistani government, the measures prohibit India from concreting the dam wall and power intake structure above specified levels until 90 days after the Neutral Expert issues a final decision, which is expected in July 2027.

The court has also imposed a reporting requirement concerning the project’s construction schedule, which will remain in effect until shortly after the Neutral Expert delivers the final decision.

Pakistan said it welcomed both the court’s determination that interim measures were warranted and the measures ordered as part of the decision.

Pakistan to Review Detailed Ruling

The government said it would now carefully examine the full details of the award and interim decision once they are published.

Pakistan will also assess how the findings could help establish a pathway for renewed engagement between the two countries under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The government said any future engagement should reflect the binding legal obligations of both Pakistan and India under the treaty.

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