India Rushes Chenab Hydropower, Pakistan Fears Water Crisis

• India accelerates four hydropower projects on the Chenab River, aiming to complete Pakal Dul and Kiru by Dec 2026, Kwar by March 2028, and speed up Ratle Dam.
• Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar emphasized strict adherence to deadlines after inspecting projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The 1000 MW Pakal Dul project in Kishtwar is India's highest dam (167m) and first storage project on a western river flowing into Pakistan.
• Once operational, Pakal Dul will allow India to control water flow timing, a major concern for Pakistan, which relies heavily on the Indus basin.
• Pakistan's agriculture (90%) and livelihoods (9 out of 10 people) depend on western rivers originating in India, making Chenab projects strategically critical.

Why It Matters: India's accelerated Chenab projects heighten Pakistan's water security concerns, impacting regional geopolitics.