Pakistan has welcomed a ruling by a Hague-based arbitration court that says India remains bound by the Indus Waters Treaty, marking a major development in the long-running water dispute between the two countries.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force and that India cannot unilaterally suspend or terminate its obligations under the agreement.

The court also issued interim measures concerning India’s hydropower projects in the Kashmir region. A neutral expert appointed through the World Bank process is expected to determine by July 2027 whether the disputed projects comply with the treaty.

Pakistan’s government welcomed the ruling, saying it confirms that the treaty has neither been terminated nor suspended. Islamabad said India remains legally required to comply with the agreement and cannot change the design or operation of hydropower projects in a way that violates its provisions.

The government also noted that Monday’s ruling contains interim measures and that the court has yet to issue its detailed decision.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by Pakistan and India in 1960 and sets out how the waters of the Indus river system are to be shared between the two countries. It has remained in place despite repeated tensions and wars between the neighbours.

The latest dispute escalated after India announced that it was putting the treaty in abeyance in 2025. Pakistan has consistently rejected the move and maintained that India cannot unilaterally suspend the agreement.

The Hague ruling now provides Pakistan with a significant legal development in its efforts to keep the treaty operational and challenge India’s position on the agreement.