China comes to Pakistan’s help after India suspends Indus Water Treaty

In response to terrorism backed by Pakistan, India implemented several measures against Pakistan, such as halting Pakistani visas and suspending the historic Indus Water Treaty, which was signed between the two nations in 1960.

For those unfamiliar, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was a water allocation agreement facilitated and brokered by the World Bank. The treaty aimed to govern the utilization of water found in the Indus River and its tributaries. Due to the halt of the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is in complete panic mode, prompting its ‘iron-brother’ China to assist.

In response to India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is concerned about a potential severe water shortage ahead. Consequently, China has committed to expedite the construction of the Mohmand Dam in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, anticipated to assist Pakistan in addressing its water needs. Once the project is finished, Pakistan will utilize the dam’s water for various purposes such as electricity generation, flood management, irrigation, and water provision.

Significantly, the Mohmand Dam belongs to the Mohmand Hydropower Project on the Swat River. Construction has been underway by China Energy Engineering Corporation since 2019. It should be mentioned that the project was originally set to finish next year, but is now being accelerated because of potential water scarcity problems in Pakistan soon, according to a report from China’s state broadcaster CCTV.

“This dam construction will prove to be a milestone for Pakistan’s major national projects which are progressing at a rapid pace”, the state broadcaster said while reporting the incident.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar recently made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will remain suspended until Pakistan stops sheltering internationally designated terrorist entities and individuals who are also engaged in cross-border terrorism against India, as per a report by IANS.