India Rejects International Court Ruling on Water-Sharing Treaty with Pakistan

{"heading_1":"Background on the Indus Waters Treaty","paragraph_1":"The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, is a bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan that governs the use of the Indus River system, which is a crucial source of water for both countries.","paragraph_2":"The treaty has been in force since 1960 and has been honored by both countries despite three wars and several other conflicts between them.","paragraph_3":"In April last year, India suspended the treaty after identifying two of three assailants in an attack that killed 26 people at a tourist destination in Kashmir as Pakistani, and began work to boost reservoir holding capacity at two hydroelectric projects in the Kashmir region.","paragraph_4":"The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty remained fully in force, and that India must observe its obligations, including those relating to the design and operation of its hydroelectric projects on the Western Rivers.","paragraph_5":"Pakistan has denied any role in the attack and has taken legal action against India for suspending the treaty and beginning work on the hydroelectric projects.","paragraph_6":"The Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling limits India's ability to operate outside of the Indus Waters Treaty, which could strain diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan."}