Archive · 1 Sep 2026
India Rejects Hague Order to Restore Indus Waters Treaty
India and Pakistan have a water-sharing agreement called the Indus Waters Treaty.
India has put the agreement on hold.
India says it will not resume the treaty until Pakistan clearly and permanently rejects support for cross-border terrorism.
A court in The Hague ordered that the treaty be restored.
India rejected that order.
India says the court was not properly formed and therefore cannot decide the issue.
India did not formally take part in the court hearings.
The court said it still considered India’s views from official letters and public statements.
India rejected a Hague court order calling for the Indus Waters Treaty to be restored.
New Delhi said the court is an illegally constituted body with no jurisdiction.
India has kept the treaty in abeyance pending Pakistan’s credible and irrevocable rejection of support for cross-border terrorism.
India did not submit written or oral arguments during the proceedings.
The court said it considered India’s positions through government communications and public statements.
- Who
- India, Pakistan, and a Hague court addressing the Indus Waters Treaty.
- What
- India rejected an order to restore the Indus Waters Treaty and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
- Where
- The Hague and the Indus Waters Treaty framework.
- Why
- India said the treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably rejects support for cross-border terrorism; it also said the court lacked jurisdiction.
India’s Position
Hague Court’s Position
Jurisdiction
India’s Position
India said the body was illegally constituted and had no jurisdiction to issue the order.
Hague Court’s Position
The court proceeded with the matter and issued an order concerning restoration of the treaty.
Status of the treaty
India’s Position
India said the Indus Waters Treaty should remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably rejects support for cross-border terrorism.
Hague Court’s Position
The court ordered that the treaty be restored.
India’s participation
India’s Position
India did not make written or oral submissions during the proceedings.
Hague Court’s Position
The court said it nevertheless considered India’s positions as discerned from official communications, conduct, and public statements.
- Agreement
- Indus Waters Treaty
- Indian position
- The treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan meets India’s stated condition.
- India’s objection
- India described the Hague body as illegally constituted and without jurisdiction.
- Court order
- The court ordered restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty.
- India’s participation
- India made no written or oral submissions during the proceedings.
- Court’s consideration of India’s views
- The court said it considered positions discerned from Indian government communications and public statements.