New Delhi, In a significant development reported by Indian media, India has ‘fully stopped’ the flow of water from the Ravi River to Pakistan following the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage, located on the border between Indian Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. This move is set to redirect water previously allocated to Pakistan towards benefiting areas in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically in the Kathua and Samba districts, covering approximately 32,000 hectares of land.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the construction of the Shahpur Kandi barrage is part of a broader strategy by India, described by some as ‘water terrorism,’ aiming to utilize the river water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation, albeit at the expense of water flow to Pakistan. This action follows India’s construction of several dams on rivers allocated under the Indus Waters Treaty, a pivotal water-sharing agreement facilitated by the World Bank and signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960. The treaty outlines the management and distribution of water resources from the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries.

The completion of the Shahpur Kandi dam is reported to enable India to maximize the use of the Ravi River’s waters, which were previously flowing unutilized towards Pakistan from the Lakhanpur dam. This development is likely to have significant implications for the water availability in Pakistan, considering the historical context of the Indus Waters Treaty and the strategic importance of water resources in the region.

The move has raised concerns regarding the potential impact on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, especially in the realm of water sharing and management, a critical issue given the geographical and climatic challenges facing both nations.