India stands firm: Refuses to bow to Hague court's Indus Water Treaty ruling, leaving Pakistan at a loss
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India has once again struck a blow to Pakistan's maneuvering regarding the Indus Water Treaty. India has categorically refused to comply with the Court of Arbitration (CoA) order seeking operational records of Indian hydroelectric power plants. India has stated unequivocally that this international arbitration court was constituted illegally, and therefore, India does not recognize its jurisdiction and orders. This firm stance by India has dealt a major blow to Pakistan's efforts to isolate itself internationally.
The documents for Baglihar and Kishanganga were sought by February 9
The Hague-based arbitration court had directed India to submit the pondage logbooks (operational records) of its hydropower plants, specifically the Baglihar and Kishanganga projects, by February 9, 2026. The court had said that these documents would be used in the second phase of the hearing on the merits. The court had also said that if the documents were not submitted, India would have to provide a formal explanation. The court scheduled the hearing for February 2 and 3 at the Peace Palace in The Hague and recorded that India had neither filed a counter-memorial nor indicated its intention to participate in the proceedings.
India's response: No need to respond to illegal court communications
According to government sources, India has clarified its position, stating that it does not recognize any parallel proceedings other than the Neutral Expert process as legitimate. India maintains that this so-called Court of Arbitration is illegally constituted, and therefore, it does not respond to any of its communications or notices. India has made it clear that it will continue to boycott these proceedings.
The treaty has been suspended since the Pahalgam attack
The root cause of the dispute stems from the terrorist attack in Pahalgam last April, after which India took firm action and formally suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). India argues that while the treaty itself is suspended, it is not obligated to respond to any international forum. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been raging over the issue for the past nine months. It has been sending delegations to various capitals, writing letters to the United Nations, and employing numerous legal tactics. However, India remains firm on its decision, placing its national interests and security above all else.