Pakistan And Its Concerns With Dulhasti-II Project – OpEd

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 with the facilitation of the World Bank, is widely regarded as one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in the world. The treaty governs the distribution of the Indus River system between Pakistan and India and has survived wars, crises, and prolonged political tensions. However, recent Indian actions have once again raised serious concerns about New Delhi’s commitment to both the letter and spirit of this treaty.

On 1 January 2026, Pakistan categorically stated that India is not allowed to misuse its restricted water allowance of the western rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. The remarks were made by Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi in response to reports that India had approved the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, without prior notification to Pakistan. Pakistan’s position is clear, consistent, and legally sound: any unilateral Indian action on the western rivers, without information-sharing and consultation, is unacceptable and treaty-violative.

Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty

Under the IWT, Pakistan was given exclusive rights over the three western rivers, Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, which together account for nearly 80 percent of the total water flow of the Indus basin. These rivers are the backbone of Pakistan’s agriculture, which contributes around 23 percent to GDP and supports nearly 38 percent of the workforce.

India, on the other hand, was granted rights over the eastern rivers, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, while its use of the western rivers was strictly limited. India is allowed to build run-of-the-river hydropower projects, but only under tight technical conditions, including limits on storage, spillway design, and water manipulation.

Most importantly, the treaty obligates India to share prior information with Pakistan about any planned project on the western rivers. This is not optional, it is a binding international commitment.

Dulhasti Stage-II: A Cause for Concern

Pakistan’s concerns regarding the Dulhasti Stage-II project stem primarily from India’s failure to provide prior notification. According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan was not formally informed or provided technical details before the project’s approval.

This lack of transparency is deeply troubling because the Chenab River alone contributes nearly 21 percent of Pakistan’s total river inflows. Any obstruction, diversion, or manipulation, temporary or permanent, can directly affect irrigation, drinking water supply, and power generation downstream.

Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized that even run-of-the-river projects can be misused if their design allows India to control water timing, especially during low-flow seasons. Such control can have severe consequences for Pakistan’s Rabi crops, which depend heavily on winter river flows.

A Repeated Pattern by India

The Dulhasti issue fits into a long-standing pattern of Indian behavior. Pakistan has raised objections to several Indian projects on the western rivers, including Baglihar (900 MW), Kishanganga (330 MW), and Ratle (850 MW). In multiple cases, Pakistan was forced to approach neutral experts or international arbitration forums due to India’s unwillingness to address concerns through bilateral mechanisms.

These disputes are not political stunts; they are based on technical violations, such as excessive pondage, gated spillways, and deviation from treaty-compliant designs. Independent experts have acknowledged that such features increase India’s ability to manipulate river flows, which the treaty explicitly seeks to prevent.

Water Security Is Pakistan’s Red Line

Pakistan is already among the most water-stressed countries in the world. Per capita water availability has dropped from over 5,000 cubic meters in 1951 to less than 1,000 cubic meters today, approaching the threshold of absolute water scarcity.

In this context, any threat to Pakistan’s rightful share of Indus basin waters is a direct threat to national security. Agriculture in Punjab and Sindh, which together produce more than 70 percent of Pakistan’s food, depends on uninterrupted river flows from the western rivers.

Pakistan has therefore made it clear that water cannot be used as a political or strategic weapon. Any attempt to do so violates international law, undermines regional stability, and sets a dangerous precedent globally.

Kashmir Factor and Unilateralism

The fact that the Dulhasti Stage-II project is located in Illegally Indian-occupied Kashmir further complicates matters. India’s unilateral actions in a disputed territory, especially on shared rivers, raise serious legal and moral questions.

Since 2019, India has accelerated infrastructure development in the occupied territory without the consent of the Kashmiri people or Pakistan, the principal lower riparian. Pakistan views these actions as part of a broader strategy to consolidate control over Kashmir while altering facts on the ground, including control over critical water resources.

Pakistan’s Responsible and Lawful Approach

Despite repeated provocations, Pakistan has remained committed to the treaty framework. Islamabad has consistently called for dialogue, data sharing, and dispute resolution through mechanisms provided under the IWT.

Pakistan’s approach reflects its respect for international law and cooperative water management. Unlike India’s unilateral conduct, Pakistan has never threatened to suspend or abandon the treaty, recognizing its importance for regional peace and stability.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s firm response to India’s reported approval of the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project sends a clear message: India cannot exceed or misuse its limited rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. Transparency, prior notification, and strict compliance are not favors, they are obligations. At a time when climate change is increasing water stress across South Asia, adherence to international agreements is more important than ever. Pakistan will continue to defend its water rights through lawful, diplomatic, and international means, while expecting India to honor a treaty that has ensured stability for over six decades. The Indus Waters Treaty is not India’s tool of pressure, it is a shared responsibility.