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J&K Leaders Clash Over Tulbul Project Amid Suspended Indus Waters Treaty

Omar Abdullah's call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project sparks sharp criticism from Mehbooba Mufti, highlighting political and regional tensions.

Fishermen clear a fishing net in the water on the partially dried up riverbed of the Indus River in Hyderabad, Pakistan April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Yasir Rajput/File Photo
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti addresses a press conference regarding the India-Pakistan conflict and the killing of civilians, at party headquarters in Srinagar.
A view of the Chenab River as the water level drops after the closure of the gates of the Salal Dam, in Reasi.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) governed the distribution and use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan.

Overview

  • Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has proposed resuming the Tulbul Navigation Project following India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack.
  • The Tulbul project, halted in 1987 under Pakistani objections citing treaty violations, aims to enable navigation on the Jhelum River and improve downstream power generation during winter.
  • Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president and former J&K Chief Minister, has criticized Abdullah's proposal as 'irresponsible' and 'provocative,' warning it could escalate tensions and internationalize water issues.
  • Abdullah has dismissed Mufti's remarks, calling the Indus Waters Treaty a 'historic betrayal' of J&K's interests and asserting the need to correct past injustices in water usage rights.
  • The political exchange underscores broader India–Pakistan tensions, with the treaty's suspension and the recent ceasefire forming the backdrop to the debate.