THE HAGUE: The Hague: The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague has ruled that the historic Indus Waters Treaty remains fully in force, determining that India’s decision to place the transboundary water-sharing accord in “abeyance” lacks any legal justification under international law.
Resolving a core dimension of the ongoing arbitration between Pakistan and India, the tribunal emphasized that unilateral suspensions or terminations are impermissible, meaning both nations are strictly bound to honor their obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Alongside affirming the active status of the accord, the tribunal issued binding interim measures restricting construction activities on the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant to protect the integrity of the water-sharing framework.
The Court prohibited intensive structural concreting on critical project components until a World Bank-appointed Neutral Expert delivers a final determination on treaty compliance expected in July 2027.
Legal authorities underscore that this landmark decision reinforces the supremacy of bilateral legal frameworks, ensuring that transboundary river governance continues to be regulated through established dispute resolution mechanisms rather than unilateral actions under the Indus Waters Treaty.
