India Rejects Hague Court’s Ruling on Indus Waters Treaty:
India rejected the Hague-based Court of Arbitration’s (CoA) ruling on the “abeyance” of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), terming it illegally constituted and asserting that it has no jurisdiction over India’s sovereign decisions.
- The CoA ruled that India’s decision to place the IWT in “abeyance” following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack was not permissible under the treaty or international law.
- The court stated that the treaty governs only water rights and does not address terrorism or the use of force.
- It concluded that cross-border terrorism does not establish a material breach of the water pact by Pakistan.
- The Court also imposed interim restrictions on certain construction activities at the Ratle project on the Chenab River until 90 days after the Neutral Expert gives a final decision, expected in 2027.
- In 2016, Pakistan sought a Court of Arbitration, while India requested a Neutral Expert to examine technical issues.
- India argues that simultaneous proceedings violate the IWT’s sequential dispute-resolution mechanism.
- The World Bank paused both processes in 2016 but allowed them to proceed simultaneously in 2022. India joined the Neutral Expert process but boycotted the CoA proceedings.
- India mai1ntains that CoA has no jurisdiction over India’s decision to keep the IWT in abeyance.
