India must uphold water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, arbitration court says

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague has ruled that India must uphold the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and limit construction on a hydroelectric plant in the Kashmir region. The court stated that India has no justification for ending or suspending the agreement, which remains fully in force.

A neutral expert, appointed by the World Bank, is expected to rule by July 2027 on whether the hydroelectric plant construction in the Himalayan region complies with the treaty's provisions.

India, however, has dismissed the proceedings. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that all awards and decisions from the 'illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration' are null and void. India maintains its position that the treaty remains in abeyance.

The ruling addresses long-standing disputes over hydroelectric developments on the western rivers of the Indus system, with Pakistan expressing concerns that Indian projects could reduce downstream water flows essential for its agriculture. The PCA had previously reinforced Pakistan's interpretation of the treaty's water allocation provisions, directing India to allow unrestricted use of western river waters for Pakistan.