Citing lack of jurisdiction, India rejects Hague court’s Indus Waters Treaty ruling

Hours after the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration at The Hague mentioned the Indus Waters Treaty stays “absolutely in pressure” and known as on India to “observe its obligations”, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) rejected this, saying that the “very institution of this alleged arbitral physique” itself was a “grave violation” of the treaty.

“This so-called Court docket was constituted by the World Financial institution in patent breach of the phrases of the Treaty, and India categorically rejects its so-called award,” the Ministry mentioned on Monday (August 31, 2026).

It went on to say that India has “by no means recognised the existence in regulation of this illegally-constituted and so-called Court docket of Arbitration, and has constantly maintained that the very institution of this alleged arbitral physique constitutes a grave violation of the Indus Waters Treaty”.

“Accordingly, India has by no means appeared earlier than this physique and has refused to take any cognisance of its earlier pronouncements,” mentioned the Ministry.

India had placed the Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance” following the Pahalgam terror assault on April 22, 2025, and the MEA, in its response on Monday (August 31, 2026), reiterated its place. “India’s resolution to carry the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance stays in pressure,” it mentioned.

The MEA additionally mentioned that “this so-called Court docket of Arbitration has no jurisdiction by any means to pronounce on India’s sovereign selections”, and mentioned that the courtroom’s pronouncements, “now or sooner or later, can have no impact on India’s actions in reference to the tasks being undertaken by India”.

Pakistan’s plea

Earlier, the arbitration physique, contemplating Pakistan’s plea, examined the explanations below which India positioned the treaty “in abeyance” and mentioned that “none of those grounds may justify suspension or termination of the Treaty”.

Issuing an “award” on the ‘Standing of the Indus Waters Treaty and Order on Interim Measures regarding the Ratle Hydro-Electrical Plant (RHEP)’, the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration mentioned, “Accordingly, the Indus Waters Treaty stays absolutely in pressure, and India should observe its obligations below the Treaty, together with these regarding the design and operation of its hydro-electric tasks on the Western Rivers.”

It had additionally thought of Pakistan’s plea on imposing measures on India relating to the RHEP, saying, “In a unanimous resolution, the Court docket determined to impose measures prohibiting India from concreting the RHEP dam wall and energy consumption construction above sure ranges till 90 days after the Impartial Professional’s remaining resolution, which is predicted in July 2027.”

The Court docket of Arbitration is chaired by Prof. Sean D. Murphy of america and includes Prof. Wouter Buytaert of Belgium, Prof. Jeffrey P. Minear of america, Choose Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh of Jordan, and Dr. Donald Blackmore of Australia.