The Hague ruling and New Delhi's suspension

An arbitration panel in The Hague ruled on Monday that the 1960 water-sharing treaty between Pakistan and India remains legally binding and that no side may suspend or end it alone. The panel also barred concrete work above set levels at the Ratle hydroelectric plant in disputed Kashmir. Islamabad welcomed the findings. New Delhi called the tribunal illegally constituted and said its suspension of the treaty stands.[1]

India put the treaty in abeyance in April 2025 after gunmen killed 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir, an attack in which Pakistan denies any part. The panel rejected India's argument that cross-border attacks amounted to a material breach, noting that the treaty covers neither terrorism nor the use of force.[1]

Ratle concrete, and the rivers the accord already names

The restrictions hold until 90 days after a World Bank-appointed neutral expert rules on whether the Ratle design complies with the treaty, and the court said that decision is expected in July 2027. The panel dismissed sovereignty, population growth, energy demand, dam technology and climate change as grounds for suspension.[1]

The accord leaves most of the water of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan and the Ravi, Sutlej and Beas to India. India keeps the April 2025 suspension standing by calling the tribunal illegally constituted, so the finding that no side may suspend or end the treaty alone does not reopen the abeyance on New Delhi's account. The Ratle concrete bar still runs until 90 days after the World Bank-appointed neutral expert rules, a decision the court said is expected in July 2027. Another reading is available: New Delhi may be holding the abeyance to keep energy demand and dam technology in play at Ratle, grounds the panel already dismissed.[1]

The concrete work the expert date would still test

India keeps the April 2025 suspension standing while the Ratle restrictions remain as the court described them. Concrete work above set levels then stays a measurable test until 90 days after the expert ruling, a decision the court said is expected in July 2027: either the bar holds, or New Delhi announces that the suspension still covers work the panel barred.[1]