DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Elections & Politics

International court orders India to uphold water treaty with Pakistan

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency In the courts
  • The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that India must uphold the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and comply with limits on its hydroelectric projects.
  • The case followed India's suspension of the treaty amid tensions after a deadly attack in Kashmir and Pakistan's legal challenge to reservoir construction.
  • India rejected the ruling and said the court had no authority over its sovereign decisions, while a World Bank-appointed expert will assess the projects by July 2027.

The Indus Waters Treaty remains in force despite the latest escalation between India and Pakistan, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled on Monday. The court said India had no justification for suspending the agreement and must continue to follow its provisions.

The treaty guarantees water supplies to 80% of Pakistan's farms and has survived three wars and other conflicts between the two countries since 1960. India suspended it in April last year after identifying Pakistan as responsible for two of three attackers in a Kashmir assault that killed 26 people. Islamabad denied involvement.

Pakistan then challenged India's work to increase reservoir capacity at two hydroelectric projects in the Kashmir region. The court said India must observe treaty obligations governing the design and operation of its projects on the Western Rivers.

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.

— Permanent Court of ArbitrationThe court set out India's obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The ruling also backed Pakistan's demand for restrictions at the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant. India cannot build the dam wall and power intake structure above specified levels until 90 days after a World Bank-appointed neutral expert rules, by July 2027, on whether construction complies with the treaty.

India, although officially a member of the court, rejected the proceedings. Its Foreign Ministry said the tribunal had "no jurisdiction whatsoever to pronounce on India's sovereign decisions" and that its rulings would have no effect on India's actions.

no jurisdiction whatsoever to pronounce on India's sovereign decisions

— India's Ministry of Foreign AffairsIndia rejected the court's authority and said the ruling would not affect its actions.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog