Pakistan wins Indus waters battle at The Hague, but India threat remains

Key Points:

• An international court in The Hague ruled unanimously that India cannot unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, affirming the treaty remains fully in force and binding on both India and Pakistan.
• India suspended the treaty in April 2025 following a deadly attack in Kashmir, citing Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism, a claim Pakistan denies.
• India rejected the court's jurisdiction and did not participate in the hearings, subsequently dismissing the ruling as "illegally constituted," while Pakistan hailed it as a legal and diplomatic victory.
• The court rejected all Indian arguments, including sovereignty and security concerns, stating no international law permits unilateral suspension of a treaty, but enforcement mechanisms remain limited.
• Pakistani officials have called for resuming treaty mechanisms like data sharing and inspections, warning that water security is an existential issue, while experts caution the current dispute does not pose an immediate threat due to geographic and infrastructural factors.