THE HAGUE: The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between Pakistan and India remains in force, delivering a significant legal setback to New Delhi’s decision to place the landmark water-sharing agreement in abeyance.
The tribunal rejected India’s position that it could unilaterally suspend or terminate the treaty, maintaining that the agreement continues to carry legal effect between the two countries.
Under the ongoing dispute-resolution mechanism, a neutral expert appointed through the World Bank is expected to determine by July 2027 whether certain hydropower projects being developed in the Himalayan region comply with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The ruling comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi over the management and use of shared water resources.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, however, rejected the tribunal’s decision, saying New Delhi “categorically” does not accept the PCA’s order.
India had announced that it was holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following an April 2025 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), in which 26 people were killed. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the incident, while Islamabad strongly rejected the allegation.
The dispute subsequently contributed to a sharp deterioration in Pakistan-India relations and was followed by intense military clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May 2025. Fighting later ended after a ceasefire was brokered by the United States.
Pakistan had initiated arbitration proceedings under Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, which establishes mechanisms for resolving disputes concerning the interpretation and implementation of the agreement.
The proceedings before the Hague-based tribunal mark a major legal development in the longstanding water dispute between Pakistan and India, particularly concerning Indian hydropower projects on rivers allocated under the treaty.
