Pakistan says welcomes Hague decision on water-sharing treaty with India

On August 31, 2026, India dismissed the Permanent Court of Arbitration's (PCA) ruling on the Indus Waters Treaty, citing lack of jurisdiction. The PCA had declared the treaty fully in force and urged India to "observe its obligations". However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected the ruling, stating that the PCA's establishment itself was a "grave violation" of the treaty.

The MEA further clarified that India has "never recognised the existence in law of this illegally-constituted and so-called Court of Arbitration" and has consistently maintained that its formation constitutes a grave violation of the treaty. The MEA reiterated that India had placed the Indus Waters Treaty "in abeyance" following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, and that its decision to do so remains in force.

The PCA had examined Pakistan's plea and found that none of the grounds could justify the suspension or termination of the treaty. It awarded measures prohibiting India from concreting the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant (RHEP) dam wall and power intake structure until 90 days after the Neutral Expert's final decision, expected in July 2027.