A tribunal in The Hague ordered India on Monday to uphold the Indus Waters Treaty and cease the suspension of the water-sharing agreement [1].
The ruling intensifies a long-standing diplomatic conflict over water rights between two nuclear-armed neighbors. Control over the Indus River system is critical for agriculture and energy security in both nations.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that India cannot withdraw from the treaty [2]. The tribunal ordered New Delhi to observe its obligations and suspend specific river projects, including the Ratle hydro-electric plant [3]. These projects became points of contention after India allegedly suspended the treaty in 2025 [3].
India rejected the order. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the treaty remains suspended and the ruling will not affect its hydro-electric projects [4]. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said, "Our position on the Indus Treaty is well known" [5].
Pakistan welcomed the decision and called for immediate compliance. The Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations said, "India must respect the Indus Waters Treaty" [6].
The dispute centers on the 1960 [3] agreement that governs the distribution of the Indus River and its tributaries. While the treaty has survived multiple wars, the current impasse marks a significant breakdown in the legal mechanisms designed to resolve technical disagreements over dam construction, and water flow.
“"India cannot withdraw from the water treaty with Pakistan."”
The rejection of the Hague tribunal's order suggests a shift toward unilateralism in India's water policy. Because the Permanent Court of Arbitration lacks an enforcement mechanism to compel sovereign nations, the resolution of this dispute now relies on bilateral diplomacy or international pressure rather than legal mandates.
