The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague has ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains valid and cannot be unilaterally suspended or terminated by India. The supplemental award, issued on 15 May 2026, clarified that India’s control over western rivers is subject to explicit treaty-based limits that apply from the design stage of hydropower projects. Pakistan hailed the decision as a significant legal and strategic victory.

The ruling followed disputes over India’s Ratle and Kishenganga hydropower projects, which Pakistan argued could reduce downstream water flow and harm agriculture. The PCA emphasized that India must provide Pakistan with sufficient data to verify compliance with the treaty. Failure to do so would shift the burden of proof to India. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the treaty and peaceful dispute resolution while vowing to continue legal and diplomatic efforts to protect its rights.

India’s foreign ministry dismissed the tribunal as “illegally constituted” and declared the ruling invalid, maintaining its suspension stance. Analysts criticized India’s position as disregard for international law, warning that water disputes between two nuclear-armed neighbors could endanger South Asian stability.