Pakistan is expressing serious concerns over India's recent approval of the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). This move is seen as a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and a potential threat to regional stability.

The IWT, signed in 1960, allocates the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers to Pakistan, while the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers are under India's control. The treaty allows India to use the Chenab's water for domestic, agricultural, and non-consumptive purposes like hydropower generation. However, Pakistan fears that the Dulhasti Stage-II project, along with other fast-tracked projects in the Indus Basin, could reduce water flow downstream, impacting its agriculture, which relies heavily on the Chenab River.

The Dulhasti Stage-II project is estimated to cost 3,277.45 crore Indian rupees and is expected to generate 260 megawatts of electricity. It will be developed by NHPC Limited, a public sector Indian company, utilizing the existing infrastructure of the Dulhasti Stage-I project, which was commissioned in 2007.

Pakistani officials and experts worry about the project's strategic implications. The Chenab River falls within Pakistan's territory, and the construction of Dulhasti Stage-II is viewed as a negation of the IWT, especially after India's declaration of suspending the treaty.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has strongly criticized India's decision, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the IWT and warning against the "weaponization of water". She emphasized that the treaty cannot be unilaterally revoked and that using water as a political tool is unacceptable, particularly in a region facing climate change and environmental challenges. Rehman also highlighted that UN rapporteurs have reinforced the treaty's legal standing.

India's decision to fast-track several disputed hydroelectric projects in the Indus Basin, including Sawalkot, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai-1 and 2, is seen as part of a broader strategy following recent cross-border clashes. Pakistan has already challenged the Baglihar dam for violating the IWT's terms, raising concerns about India's intentions regarding shared water resources.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the IWT and intends to continue participating in Neutral Expert proceedings in good faith. However, the country has also warned that any attempt to undermine the treaty or establish hegemony over its rivers will have serious consequences. Pakistan has urged the international community to take notice of the situation, underscoring that unilateral actions on shared water resources pose risks to regional peace and environmental stability.

The Chenab River basin already has three operational projects: the Dulhasti-I project, the Baglihar project, and the Salal project. In addition to the Dulhasti Stage-II project, the Ratle, Kiru, and Kwar projects are also under construction.