India defies Hague, builds dams on Indus

India has rejected a ruling by a Hague-based arbitration court that the Indus Waters Treaty remains legally binding, insisting it will not comply with the decision.

The court’s judgment comes after Pakistan challenged India’s move to suspend the treaty following a deadly attack in Pahalgam in 2025, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. The 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries. India has long argued that the treaty is outdated and unfairly restricts its ability to develop hydroelectric projects in the region.

Pakistan, which relies heavily on the Indus for its water supply, hailed the ruling as a victory for international law. The court affirmed that India must continue to uphold its obligations under the treaty, including providing advance notice of any water-related projects. India, however, has signalled it will press ahead with its plans to build new dams and redirect water flows, escalating tensions in an already fraught relationship.

The decision deepens a long-running dispute over water rights that has become increasingly entangled with broader geopolitical tensions. If India follows through on its defiance, it could trigger further legal action or diplomatic retaliation, risking instability in a region where water scarcity is already a flashpoint.