The Government of Pakistan takes note of the Press Release issued a short time ago by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague in the Indus Waters dispute noting that it has today issued to the Parties its Award on the Status of the Indus Waters Treaty and its Decision on Interim Measures. While the Award and Decision have not themselves yet been published by the Court, this is expected to take place in the next week or so.

As the Court`s Press Release makes clear, the Court concluded unanimously that India’s decision on ‘abeyance’ of the Treaty is not permissible under the Treaty or other applicable rules of international law” and accordingly “that the Treaty has not been terminated or its operation suspended and rather remains fully in force" and that “India remains bound by and must observe its obligations under the Treaty, including those relating to the design and operation of hydro-electric projects on the Western Rivers and associated dispute settlement.

Pakistan welcomes this finding by the Court.

The Court`s Press Release also makes clear that the Court also decided unanimously to impose measures prohibiting India from concreting the RHEP dam wall and power intake structure above certain levels until 90 days after the Neutral Expert’s final decision, which is expected in July 2027.” Further, the Court also “imposed a reporting measure relating to the Construction Schedule until shortly after the Neutral Expert’s final decision.”

Pakistan welcomes this finding by the Court that interim Measures are warranted, as well as the measures ordered by the Court.

The Government of Pakistan will now be giving careful consideration to the detail of the Award and Decision, pending their publication, and how these may best assist in finding a pathway back to the Parties` engagement under the Treaty in a manner that reflects the binding legal obligations of both sides under the Treaty.