India is reportedly planning to increase its water extraction from the Indus river system, which supplies water to millions of Pakistani farms downstream. The proposed projects include expanding the over 100-year-old Ranbir canal on the Chenab River and constructing new water storage dams, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The move follows India’s suspension of its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, shortly after a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, for which India blamed Pakistan without presenting evidence. Pakistan has denied involvement and continues to regard the treaty as valid, despite the recent ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
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Under the expansion plans, India aims to double the length of the Ranbir canal, increasing its water diversion capacity from about 40 to 150 cubic meters per second. Additional projects include hydropower and large dams on tributaries of the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, which could significantly reduce water flow into Pakistan.
The Indus Waters Treaty is seen as a rare success in international water sharing, but Pakistan has condemned India’s suspension of the treaty and warns that any attempt to divert water could be seen as an act of war. Islamabad is preparing legal challenges through international courts and the World Bank.
Experts note that these projects could take years to complete but could have profound implications for Pakistan’s agriculture and hydropower sectors, which rely heavily on the Indus system. The situation remains a critical point of tension in the fragile relationship between the two countries.
