Overview
- A Court of Arbitration constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty has ruled the pact remains in force and affirmed jurisdiction despite India's stance that it placed the treaty in abeyance.
- A binding order requires India to submit daily inflow and outflow data, storage levels, and operational logs for Kishanganga and Ratle/Baglihar by February 9, 2026.
- India has halted Permanent Indus Commission meetings and routine treaty data-sharing since April 2025 after the Pahalgam attack.
- Project acceleration on the western rivers continues, including NHPC’s February 5 tender for the 1,856 MW Sawalkot plant, fast-tracking of Pakal Dul for December 2026, targets for Ratle in 2028, and pushes on Kiru, Kwar, and Dulhasti Stage-II.
- Reservoir operations have affected downstream flows, with all Salal Dam gates closed and reports of sharp drops at Pakistan’s Marala headworks, intensifying Pakistani concerns over agricultural and food security.