Indus Waters Treaty Remains Fully in Force, Rules Permanent Court of Arbitration
THE HAGUE : The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) says the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is still valid and India is legally obliged to honour all its commitments under the treaty.
The court ruled that the government’s attempt to have the IWT “in abeyance” was ineffective and India has no international legal right or any authority under the treaty to unilaterally suspend or terminate it. In its unanimous verdict, the court reiterated that if the Indian hydroelectric projects are to be built on the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers then they should strictly adhere to the provisions and restrictions mentioned in the Indus Waters Treaty.
The court has also granted Pakistan’s interim application for the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant. The order prohibits India from releasing concrete in certain sections of the wall of the Ratle dam and its power intake structure.
The restrictions to the Ratle project will be in place until 90 days after the final decision of the Neutral Expert, which is likely to be sometime around July 2027. In addition, the court’s determination of the status of the Indus Water Treaty overwhelmingly supports Pakistan’s claims. Official awards issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration will be posted on the official website of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, omitting classified information.