The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on Monday ordered India to suspend work on hydro projects and uphold the treaty it had unilaterally declared suspended in 2025.
According to the order issued by The Hague-based court, the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries remains fully in force, and Delhi has no justification for ending or suspending the agreement. It said a neutral expert, appointed by the World Bank, would judge by July 2027 whether the construction of hydroelectric plants in the Himalayan region was in line with the treaty.
Delhi had unilaterally held the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance after 26 people were killed in India-held Kashmir in April 2025. India had blamed Islamabad of orchestrating the deadly attack without any evidence, and had subsequently conducted airstrikes in Pakistan that led to a brief conflict between the neighboring states. The conflict had ended in a ceasefire brokered by Washington in May 2025.
In its ruling, The Hague-based court issued interim orders barring India’s construction work on the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant in Kashmir until the neutral expert’s final decision.
During proceedings, the court examined India’s April 2025 decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance” and found such a decision could only mean India was claiming the treaty was either suspended or terminated. It examined all potential grounds on which India could take such action, including those cited in Delhi’s public statements, and unanimously found that none of them could justify suspension or termination of the agreement.
“Accordingly, the Indus Waters Treaty 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,” it said.
Pakistan initiated the arbitration proceedings in August 2016 under the Indus Waters Treaty. Following India’s objections, the World Bank paused the process of appointing the court chairman and the neutral expert in December 2016, listing it in 2022. In July 2023, the court issued an Award on Competence, rejecting India’s objections to the court’s jurisdiction.
Pakistan welcomes decision
In a statement, Pakistan’s Information Ministry welcomed the arbitration court’s findings, saying the government would now carefully consider the details of the Award and Decision, as well as how these might best assist in finding a pathway back to the parties’ engagement under the treaty in a manner that reflects the binding legal obligations of both sides.
“The Court’s press release also makes clear that the Court unanimously decided to impose measures prohibiting India from concreting the RHEP dam wall and power intake structure above certain levels until 90 days after the Neutral Expert’s final decision, which is expected in July 2027,” it said.
“Further, the Court also imposed a reporting measure relating to the Construction Schedule until shortly after the Neutral Expert’s final decision. Pakistan welcomes this finding by the Court that interim measures are warranted, as well as the measures ordered by the Court,” it added.