Court says India must uphold Pakistan water treaty

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has mandated India to adhere to a water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, escalating recent tensions between the two nations. The court declared that New Delhi must adhere to its treaty obligations regarding the Indus and other rivers, a demand India had attempted to suspend this year.

The court unanimously determined that none of India's justifications for suspending the treaty were valid and confirmed that the treaty remains fully operational. India remains obligated to comply with treaty provisions, particularly concerning the design and operation of hydroelectric projects on western rivers. India's construction of hydroelectric projects on the Indus and associated rivers must comply with the treaty's stipulations.

Pakistan expressed satisfaction with the court's ruling, while India categorically rejected the court's decision. A significant point of contention is the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which regulates water distribution from six rivers originating in India and flowing into Pakistan's Indus basin, a resource vital to hundreds of millions of people.

The river flows through a disputed region between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. In May 2025, India suspended its treaty membership, alleging that Pakistan had supported a deadly attack on tourists on the Indian side of Kashmir. India's Minister for Water Resources, CR Patil, announced that the government would prevent any water flow to Pakistan.

Pakistan refutes accusations of supporting the Kashmir attack, accusing India of attempting to militarize the water resource. Islamabad has warned that any attempt to alter cross-border waterways would be considered an act of war.