India ordered to uphold Indus Waters Treaty as PCA rejects suspension

On August 31, 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague issued an award declaring that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) “remains fully in force” and that India “must observe its obligations” under the agreement. The tribunal imposed interim measures that prohibit India from concreting the dam wall and power-intake structure of the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir above specified levels. Those restrictions stay in place until 90 days after a World Bank-appointed neutral expert delivers a final decision, expected by July 2027.

Big Victory for Pakistan: Hague Court Rules India Cannot Suspend Indus Waters Treaty Hague Court Rejects India’s IWT Suspension, Orders Compliance with Pakistan Water Treaty India remains bound by and must observe Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan: Hague-based court ReutersExpress TribuneThe IndependentAl Jazeera (website)The Hague orders India to reactivate the Indo Treaty

The IWT, signed on September 19, 1960, allocates the three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — to Pakistan and the three eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India. Under the treaty, Pakistan receives roughly 80 percent of the water that irrigates its farms.

India remains bound by and must observe Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan: Hague-based court

In April 2025, India placed the treaty in “abeyance” after the April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. New Delhi blamed Pakistani militants; Islamabad denied any role and lodged a legal challenge under the treaty’s dispute-resolution mechanism. The dispute had been pending since Pakistan initiated arbitration in 2016, with the PCA eventually issuing the 2026 award.

India remains bound by and must observe Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan: Hague-based court

• 80 percent of Pakistan’s irrigated agriculture depends on water flows governed by the IWT.

India remains bound by and must observe Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan: Hague-based court

• The Ratle project is a run-of-river hydro-electric scheme on the Chenab River; the PCA’s interim measures target the dam wall and power-intake structure.

India remains bound by and must observe Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan: Hague-based court

• The PCA’s press release emphasized that none of the legal grounds cited by India justified suspension of the treaty and that the agreement must be respected even during armed conflict.

The Hague orders India to reactivate the Indo Treaty

• “This so-called Court of Arbitration has no jurisdiction whatsoever to pronounce on India’s sovereign decisions, now or in the future,” — India’s Foreign Ministry – “This so-called Court of Arbitration has no jurisdiction whatsoever to pronounce on India’s sovereign decisions, now or in the future,” — India’s Foreign Ministry.

Hague Court Rejects India’s IWT Suspension, Orders Compliance with Pakistan Water Treaty

Sources differ on India’s current legal stance: some report that New Delhi continues to treat the treaty as suspended, while others note that India “does not recognise” the PCA’s authority but acknowledges the award’s existence. The full text of the PCA decision has not been published, leaving details of the interim measures and reporting requirements unclear.

Hague Court Rejects India’s IWT Suspension, Orders Compliance with Pakistan Water Treaty

• A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank will issue a determination on the compliance of the Ratle and related projects by July 2027.

Big Victory for Pakistan: Hague Court Rules India Cannot Suspend Indus Waters Treaty

• India is required to continue reporting construction schedules for a period after the expert’s decision, as stipulated by the PCA.

India remains bound by and must observe Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan: Hague-based court

• Both governments have signaled that the ruling could shape future diplomatic engagement on water sharing, though India maintains its position that the treaty suspension remains in force.

The Hague orders India to reactivate the Indo Treaty