Big achievement for Pakistan against India as the International Court of Arbitration has admitted for hearing the Government of Pakistan’s case against the controversial designs of two Indian hydropower projects that will halt water flow to the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

The Court of Arbitration in The Hague accepted Pakistan's position, ruling that the arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction to determine the dispute over design changes by India at the Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric plants.

According to sources in the Attorney General Office, the Court of Arbitration declared Pakistan's case regarding Kishanganga dam as admissible and rejected the Indian jurisdictional objection. Now the International Court of Justice will begin hearing on the merits of Pakistan's claim.

The legal battle between Pakistan and India started on January 27, 2023 when Pakistan took the case to the Court of Arbitration, raising objection to the controversial designs of two hydropower projects namely 330 MW Kishenganga and 850 MW Ratle Hydropower by India.

The Court of Arbitration started its preliminary proceedings on Jan 27-28 with restrictions on both India and Pakistan that nothing would be shared with the media till the final verdict. In the first two days, Pakistan pitched its case.

Pakistan’s delegation, headed by the secretary Water Resources Ministry and comprising Pakistan’s commissioner of Indus Waters, top officials of the Attorney General’s Office, and a team of international lawyers was hired by the GoP advocated the country’s case for justice.

The World Bank had earlier constituted the Court of Arbitration on the demand of Pakistan. It also formed a one-man neutral expert as was demanded by India.

Sean Murphy was appointed as the chairman of the Court of Arbitration (CoA) and Michel Lino as the neutral expert by the World Bank on October 17 last year.

Pakistan objected to the Kishanganga project because the design envisaged the diversion of water from one tributary of the Jhelum to another.

The 850MW Ratle Hydropower project, if constructed under its existing objectionable design, will reduce the water flow of Chenab River at Head Marala by 40%, which will be detrimental to the irrigation in central Punjab of Pakistan.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori