India rejects Hague Indus Waters ruling
India has rejected the latest ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that the so-called Court of Arbitration was illegally constituted and has no jurisdiction over India’s sovereign decisions.
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday that India has never recognised the existence or authority of the Court of Arbitration. It added that any pronouncements by the body, either now or in the future, would have no effect on India’s actions concerning its ongoing projects or sovereign decisions.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 to establish a framework for sharing the waters of the Indus river system.
India placed the treaty in abeyance in April 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack. New Delhi has reiterated that its decision to keep the treaty in abeyance remains in force.
The MEA has maintained that the so-called Court of Arbitration has no authority to alter India’s position on the treaty.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration, however, has taken a different position. It ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force and that India cannot unilaterally suspend its obligations under the agreement.
The ruling also addressed India’s hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Ratle Hydroelectric Project, and called for restrictions on certain construction activities pending assessment by a neutral expert.
The court’s position has therefore directly conflicted with India’s interpretation of the treaty and the legitimacy of the arbitration process.
The Indus Waters Treaty has long been a sensitive issue between India and Pakistan. The dispute intensified after India announced its decision to keep the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam attack.
India’s latest rejection makes clear that New Delhi does not accept the authority of the Court of Arbitration and will not allow its pronouncements to influence India’s sovereign decisions or ongoing water and hydropower projects.
The conflicting positions of India and the Hague-based arbitration body are likely to add another layer to the already tense diplomatic relationship between India and Pakistan.
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