Weeks after India put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on hold in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, China has revealed plans to expedite construction of a “flagship” dam in Pakistan in order to relieve pressure on its all-weather partner, according to a media report.
Since 2019, the state-owned China Energy Engineering Corporation has been engaged in the Mohmand Hydropower Project in the northwest Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Concrete filling on the dam began on Saturday, according to official broadcaster CCTV, which described the development as “a critical construction milestone and a phase of accelerated development for this national flagship project of Pakistan.” The South China-based broadcaster South China Morning Post is situated in Hong Kong.
Prior to Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, visiting Beijing on Monday to meet with Wang Yi, the top Chinese official, the action was taken. Following India’s announcement to halt the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in response to the April 22 terrorist incident that killed tourists in Pahalgam, China took this action.
The Mohmand dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is intended to be a multifunctional facility for water supply, irrigation, flood control, and power generation. It is expected to produce 800 MW of hydropower and provide 300 million gallons of drinking water per day to Peshawar, the province’s capital and largest city.
The Indus Water Treaty grants India the right to use the waters of the eastern Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas rivers, while Pakistan is granted access to the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. Approximately 80% of Pakistan’s drinking and irrigation water comes from its rivers. India told Pakistan that it has decided to put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold with immediate effect, citing Pakistan’s violation of the treaty’s terms, just days after the Pakistan state sponsored Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
This report is written with inputs from PTI
