‘No jurisdiction’: India rejects international court’s order on Indus Water Treaty

India has dismissed the Hague-based Court of Arbitration's decision about suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that the court has "no jurisdiction whatsoever" to comment on India's sovereign choices. The Court of Arbitration had ruled that India's decision to "abeyance" the Treaty was unlawful under the agreement or other internationally accepted legal principles.

The court emphasized that the treaty should continue to apply in full, and India must uphold its commitments, including those related to hydroelectric projects on the Western Rivers. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the court's decision, stating that the so-called Court of Arbitration was established illegally and has no legal standing.

They reiterated that India never acknowledges the court's existence and has consistently rejected its decisions, considering them a severe breach of the treaty. Pakistan argued that the court has no authority to address India's sovereign decisions and that the court's rulings will not influence India's actions regarding the projects under the Indus Waters Treaty.

This decision, announced after a terrorist attack, was based on a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting held on April 23, 2025, which stated that the treaty would be put in abeyance until Pakistan shows a credible and permanent commitment against cross-border terrorism.