Pakistan has objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir and laying of foundation stone for the construction of Ratle and Kwar hydroelectric projects on Chenab river. It claims that this would be a “direct violation” of the Indus Water Treaty. Prime Minister Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday to attend a public event for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. During the visit, Modi laid the foundation stone of Ratle and Kwar hydroelectric projects. An 850 MW project will be constructed on the Chenab river in Kishtwar at a cost of about Rs 5,300 crore and a 540 MW Kwar hydroelectric project on the same river at a cost of over Rs 4,500 crore.
Upset over the announcement of projects on the Chenab river, Pakistan’s Foreign Office termed Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kashmir as yet another ploy to show fake normalcy in the Valley. “Since August 5, 2019, the international community has witnessed several such desperate attempts by India to divert attention from the real underlying issues in Kashmir,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Sunday night. Pakistan also criticized the laying of foundation stone for the construction of Ratel and Kwar hydroelectric projects (HEPs) on the Chenab river in Kashmir.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry office said, “Pakistan has objected to the construction of the Ratel hydroelectric power plant designed by India.” India has not yet fulfilled its treaty obligation to share information with Pakistan for the Kwar hydroelectric power plant. “Pakistan views the laying of the foundation stone of two projects by the Indian Prime Minister as a direct violation of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT),” the Foreign Office said. Pakistan called upon India to fulfill its obligations under the IWT and refrain from taking any steps detrimental to the IWT framework.
Nehru and Ayub Khan signed the Indus Water Treaty
The Indus Water Treaty of 1960 was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the President of Pakistan Ayub Khan, mediated by the World Bank. The treaty deals with the use of water from the Indus River and its tributaries flowing in both the countries.