Amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, allegations have surfaced regarding the targeting of Pakistan's Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. While Pakistan has claimed that India deliberately attacked the dam, Indian officials maintain that their strikes were solely aimed at terrorist infrastructure.
According to the Chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), India attempted a direct attack on the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, storing a vital water reservoir for Pakistan's energy security. The chairman stated that the strike also aimed to hit nearby civilian areas, raising concerns about violations of international humanitarian laws. He said that India's intention was to damage the hydropower plant's structure and disrupt Pakistan's power production capabilities. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the consequences could have been catastrophic if the water reservoir had been breached or the power tunnels damaged. The chairman also commended the swift response from Pakistan's armed forces.
Conversely, India has asserted that its military actions were targeted exclusively at terrorist infrastructure in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. Indian officials stated that the strikes, dubbed "Operation Sindoor," were carefully planned to avoid civilian casualties and military installations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the targets were destroyed with precision, and the action was limited to terror camps and infrastructure to break the morale of the terrorists.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that India targeted the Nauseri Dam, which is part of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project. He questioned whether international laws and war conventions allow targeting a country's water reserves, dams, and hydropower structures. He also mentioned that the Indian strikes endangered civil aviation, with 57 international flights passing through Pakistani airspace during the incident. The DG ISPR also confirmed that Indian forces deliberately targeted places of worship and civilian areas, resulting in the death of at least 26 civilians and injuries to 46 others.
In response to the strikes, Pakistan has placed its air force jets on high alert and warned that it would respond at a time and place of its choosing. The international community has been urged to take note of India's provocative actions.
Conflicting reports and claims from both sides make it difficult to ascertain the truth. While Pakistan insists that the Neelum-Jhelum dam was intentionally targeted, India denies these allegations, stating that its strikes were solely aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure. The situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating international norms and escalating the conflict.
