Court orders India to stop violating Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan wins major legal battle
Pakistan has warmly welcomed the recent ruling of the Court of Arbitration on the interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty. The court placed strict restrictions on India’s construction of illegal run-of-river hydro projects on the western rivers.
The court ruled that India must provide Pakistan with uninterrupted access to water and that no exemptions violating the treaty will be accepted. The decision marks a major legal victory for Pakistan against India’s irresponsible and treaty-violating actions.
On August 8, 2025, the court published its verdict on its official website. Pakistan’s Foreign Office called it a significant legal success, noting that the ruling rejects India’s attempts to justify its hydro projects using so-called “ideal” or “best practice” methods.
The court also sided with Pakistan’s position on several technical points — including lower-level outlets, gated spillways, turbine water intakes, and freeboard measurements — and prohibited India from increasing the storage capacity of western rivers, which would violate the treaty.
The Foreign Office emphasized that the ruling is final and binding for both countries and sets a legal standard for future arbitration and neutral expert cases. The court acknowledged Pakistan’s challenges as a downstream country and reaffirmed that the treaty’s core purpose is to ensure a clear understanding of rights and responsibilities and to resolve disputes peacefully.
Pakistan remains committed to fully implementing the Indus Waters Treaty and expects India to stop violations immediately and comply with the court’s decision in good faith.
