Water Weaponisation Crisis: 7 Alarming Facts as Sherry Rehman Warns Against India’s Dangerous Hydropower Moves

Water weaponisation has emerged as a serious regional threat after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman issued a strong warning against India’s approval of new hydropower projects on the Chenab River. The move, she said, undermines international law, violates the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), and risks further destabilising South Asia at a time of deep climate vulnerability.

Her remarks followed reports that India has cleared the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a decision Islamabad views as part of a broader and dangerous pattern.

Understanding Water Weaponisation

Water weaponisation refers to the strategic manipulation of water resources to gain political, economic, or military leverage over another state. In South Asia, where rivers cross borders and millions depend on shared water systems, such actions can trigger humanitarian crises.

Senator Sherry Rehman warned that turning rivers into political tools is “neither sane nor acceptable,” especially in a region already battling climate change, glacial melt, and water scarcity.

Sherry Rehman’s Warning on Regional Stability

Speaking after Indian media confirmed approval of the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project, Senator Rehman said the move reflects a pattern of unilateral actions that undermine trust.

“The weaponisation of water is extremely dangerous in a climate-stressed region like South Asia,” she stated.

She emphasized that Pakistan considers India’s actions a flagrant violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark 1960 agreement brokered by the World Bank.

India’s Hydropower Push on the Chenab River

According to Indian media, the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II project recently received environmental clearance, just weeks after approval of the much larger Sawalkot Hydropower Project.

Other controversial projects include:

• Ratle
• Bursar
• Pakal Dul
• Kwar
• Kiru
• Kirthai-I and II

Together, these developments indicate a systematic acceleration of hydropower construction in the Indus Basin, raising alarms in Islamabad.

Indus Waters Treaty and Legal Implications

Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) allocates:

• Indus, Jhelum, Chenab → Pakistan
• Ravi, Beas, Sutlej → India

Senator Rehman reiterated that the treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended or revoked, calling India’s recent posture legally untenable.

Pakistan has repeatedly stated that any attempt to obstruct or manipulate river flows would be treated as a serious violation of international law.

External Resource:
World Bank – Indus Waters Treaty Overview: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar/brief/indus-waters-treaty

Climate Change and Environmental Stress

The controversy unfolds amid escalating climate pressures. South Asia is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions globally, facing:

• Accelerated glacier melt
• Erratic monsoon patterns
• Increased flooding and droughts
• Water insecurity for millions

Weaponising water infrastructure under such conditions, experts warn, could trigger humanitarian disasters.

Pakistan’s Diplomatic and Legal Position

Islamabad has consistently maintained that India’s actions violate not only bilateral agreements but also international water governance norms.

Following India’s controversial decision earlier this year to place the treaty “in abeyance” after the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan rejected the claim outright and called for international intervention.

Officials stress that water is a shared lifeline, not a strategic weapon.

Why Water Weaponisation Is a Dangerous Precedent

The weaponisation of water threatens to normalize resource coercion in geopolitics. Analysts warn that:

• It undermines decades of conflict-prevention mechanisms
• It increases the risk of regional instability
• It weakens international treaty frameworks

Such actions could inspire similar behavior in other transboundary river basins worldwide.

Conclusion: A Call for Responsible Water Governance

The escalating debate over water weaponisation underscores the urgent need for restraint, dialogue, and respect for international law. As Senator Sherry Rehman rightly warned, turning shared rivers into geopolitical tools risks destabilising an already fragile region.

At a time when climate change demands cooperation rather than confrontation, South Asia must choose diplomacy over division and sustainability over short-term power plays.