ISLAMABAD: India has once again openly violated the Indus Waters Treaty by approving a hydropower project on the Chenab River, raising serious concerns in Pakistan over water security and regional stability.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman strongly condemned the move, stating that the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project is a blatant breach of the treaty and a direct attack on Pakistan’s internationally recognized water rights. She warned that the unilateral suspension of the treaty violates international law and undermines regional peace.

Senator Rehman highlighted that India’s project poses serious risks to Pakistan’s water, agricultural, and environmental security, and could also have strategic and defensive implications for the country. She accused India of using water as a weapon to create tension and instability in the region.

She further stated that the sudden and abnormal reduction in the Chenab’s flow is evidence of Indian water aggression. “The Indus Waters Treaty is not subject to the discretion of a single country; attempts to monopolize rivers can have severe consequences,” she said.

Sherry Rehman emphasized that water is Pakistan’s red line and no compromise will be tolerated. She warned that if India does not reconsider, it will face the consequences, and Pakistan will highlight these violations effectively in international forums. She stressed that India must cease unilateral actions and adhere to international agreements.

This development comes amid growing tensions over cross-border water management, with Pakistan maintaining that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding international commitment designed to ensure equitable water sharing and regional stability.