What happened
The Government of Pakistan said on 17 May 2026 that it had noted “with utmost satisfaction” a Supplemental Award Concerning Maximum Pondage issued by the Court of Arbitration in the Indus Waters Treaty proceedings arising from the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant and the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project design disputes.
The award was handed down on Friday, 15 May, according to a statement issued on the Government of Pakistan’s X account and carried by the state-run Radio Pakistan.
What the award says
Pakistan said the supplemental award affirms its central position that the Indus Waters Treaty places substantive limits on India’s ability to control water on the western rivers. It builds on the Court’s General Issues Award of 8 August 2025.
Under the ruling, pondage for a run-of-river plant must be justified by real project needs, actual expected operation, site hydrology, hydraulic conditions, power-system requirements, and the information and explanation required under the treaty. Installed capacity and anticipated load must be realistic, well-founded and defensible, Pakistan said, adding that India cannot justify increased pondage through imagined capacity, artificial load curves, unrealistic peaking assumptions or bare assertions of compliance with paragraph 15 release limits.
The Court also confirmed that any applicable minimum-flow obligation must be taken into account when calculating the pondage required for firm power, where such an obligation exists and is not otherwise satisfied, according to the statement. Pakistan said the award strengthens its review rights by requiring India to provide sufficient information and explanation for Pakistan to assess treaty compliance.
Why it matters
The disputes concern the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab and on the Kishanganga, a tributary of the Jhelum — western rivers allocated to Pakistan for unrestricted use under the 1960 treaty, which is guaranteed by the World Bank. Pakistan has repeatedly argued that storage and pondage at such plants can let India regulate flows that feed its agriculture and hydropower. KhabarWire has reported earlier calls for World Bank and UN action over reduced Chenab flows.
Pakistan said the Court had earlier held that awards of a Court of Arbitration are final and binding on the parties and have controlling legal effect for subsequent treaty bodies on relevant questions of interpretation. It said it would place the interpretations before the Neutral Expert process, consistent with treaty procedures and applicable confidentiality arrangements.
What remains open
The statement did not set out a timetable for the Neutral Expert process or say what specific design changes, if any, the award would require from India. New Delhi had not issued a full public response to the supplemental award as of 17 May. India placed the treaty in abeyance in April 2025, a move Pakistan has called unlawful.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published material, not independent reporting. The award terms and Pakistan's position are attributed to the Government of Pakistan statement as reported below. Sources reviewed on 2026-05-17.
- Radio Pakistan — "Pakistan welcomes Court of Arbitration's Supplemental Award on Indus Waters Treaty"17 May 2026 · Reports the supplemental award on maximum pondage handed down on 15 May, the Ratle and Kishanganga proceedings, Pakistan's summary of the ruling and its plan to take the interpretations to the Neutral Expert process.
