India is proposing the construction of a tunnel to divert water from the Chenab River to the Beas River.
The project has sparked a diplomatic dispute between the two neighbors because it threatens the downstream water flow into Pakistan. Both nations rely on the Indus Waters Treaty to manage the shared river system, and any perceived breach of this agreement often heightens regional tensions.
The proposed project involves an 8.7-km tunnel [1] designed to move water from the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir to the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh [1]. According to reports from 2024, the Modi administration seeks to maximize the use of western-river water for domestic needs [1].
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, raised objections to the plan. Andrabi said the diversion would violate the Indus Waters Treaty and reduce the availability of water for downstream users in Pakistan [1].
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, governs the distribution of the Indus River system. While the treaty allows India some flexibility for agricultural and power projects, Pakistan argues that large-scale diversions of this nature exceed those permissions.
India has not issued a detailed public rebuttal to the specific objections raised by Andrabi, but the project remains a point of contention. The potential for reduced water flow has led to warnings that Pakistan could face significant water shortages if the project proceeds as planned [1].
“Pakistan warns the diversion could undermine the Indus Waters Treaty.”
The dispute highlights the fragility of the Indus Waters Treaty as a mechanism for conflict resolution. By attempting to divert water from the Chenab to the Beas, India is asserting its right to maximize resource utilization, while Pakistan views the move as a threat to its national water security. This tension reflects a broader trend where environmental and resource management are becoming central to the geopolitical rivalry between the two nuclear-armed states.
