International Court of Justice annuls Indias decision Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan upheld

Amsterdam/Netherlands:- The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Monday ruled that India should uphold a water-sharing treaty with Pakistan that was suspended due to tensions between the two countries. Along with this, the court has also ordered to restrict work on a hydroelectric project being built in the Kashmir region.
It is worth noting that India suspended this treaty that ensures water supply to Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year that killed 26 people. This treaty supplies water to 80 percent of Pakistan's farmland.
On the other hand, Islamabad denied any involvement in the attack and when India started work on increasing the water storage capacity of two hydroelectric projects in the Kashmir region last year, Pakistan took legal action.
Despite three wars and several other conflicts since 1960, both countries had respected the Indus Waters Treaty, but these steps taken by India were seen as the first concrete step towards working outside the treaty.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration said that the Indus Waters Treaty is fully applicable as India has no valid grounds to terminate or suspend the agreement. The court said, "India must comply with its obligations under the treaty, including the rules relating to the design and operation of its hydroelectric projects on the western rivers."
On the other hand, despite being an official member of the court, India declared its non-compliance with the court's decision and categorically rejected the decision. India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, "This so-called arbitral tribunal has no jurisdiction to adjudicate on sovereign decisions of India. Its observations will not affect the work being done by India, now or in the future, in relation to the projects being carried out." The court has said that an impartial expert appointed by the World Bank will decide by July 2027 whether the construction of hydroelectric plants in the Himalayan region is in accordance with the treaty or not. Agreeing with Pakistan's demand, the court also said that India will not be allowed to build walls and power intake structures above certain limits at the hydroelectric plant until 90 days after the decision of the impartial expert.