Weeks after halting the Indus Water Treaty, India has accelerated construction of major dams in the disputed Ladakh region, sparking alarm in Pakistan.
New hydropower projects—such as Achinthang-Sanjak, Parfela, Sont (Batalik), and Khalsti—are being built on the Indus River, potentially restricting the flow of western rivers into Pakistan. Pakistani officials and water experts warn these developments may breach the limits on storage and usage set by the 1960 treaty, brokered by the World Bank.
Read more: Dastgir Claims India Supports TTP
Islamabad has accused New Delhi of weaponizing water, cautioning that the projects could drastically reduce river flow into Pakistan, threatening agriculture and ecosystems.
Officials further criticized India’s unilateral actions in a disputed region, calling it a violation of international norms and a troubling sign for future water-sharing diplomacy. They also noted an imbalance in resource access—military installations benefit while local civilians still lack basic energy infrastructure.
Pakistan has long expressed concern over India’s dam-building in occupied Kashmir, viewing it as a strategic risk. The latest surge in hydropower development has only deepened these fears.
