Hague court orders India to uphold Indus Waters Treaty, suspend work on its hydropower project

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has ruled that India must adhere to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan and halt construction on a hydroelectric project in occupied Kashmir. The IWT, which divides water resources between India and Pakistan, has been a source of tension between the two nations since its inception in 1960.

Following India's unilateral suspension of the treaty in April 2024, Pakistan declared any attempt to suspend its water share as an "act of war". The PCA upheld Pakistan's position, declaring that the IWT remains fully in force and that India has no justification for ending or suspending the agreement. The court found that none of the grounds cited by India, including a perceived breach of the treaty's "cooperative spirit" or fundamental changes in circumstances, justify suspension or termination of the treaty.

The PCA declared that the IWT "remains fully in force, and India must observe its obligations under the treaty, including those relating to the design and operation of its hydro-electric projects on the Western Rivers". The court imposed measures prohibiting India from concreting the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant (RHEP) dam wall and power intake structure until 90 days after a World Bank-appointed neutral expert's final decision.