China accelerates Mohmand Dam Project amid Indian water threats

China has accelerated the construction of the Mohmand Dam in Pakistan to help mitigate the country’s growing water security risks, following India’s threat to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after the recent Pahalgam incident, according to a report by a Chinese state-owned publication.

The move is seen as part of a broader strategic response to India’s decision to suspend the World Bank-brokered treaty, which has regulated water sharing between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since 1960. In response, Beijing has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s infrastructure and water resilience.

The state-owned China Energy Engineering Corporation has been working on the Mohmand Hydropower Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2019. Now, with rising regional tensions, the project is being fast-tracked.

Key Features of the Mohmand Dam

Located in northwestern Pakistan, the Mohmand Dam is a multi-purpose project aimed at:

• Generating 800 MW of hydropower

• Providing 300 million gallons per day of clean drinking water to Peshawar

• Enhancing flood control and irrigation capacity in the region

The project is vital for Pakistan’s water security, especially as the country faces growing threats from climate change, regional instability, and now direct pressure from India over water rights.

The report also highlights other ongoing projects under China-Pakistan cooperation, especially in energy, agriculture, and industrial development. Among these, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, often called Pakistan’s version of the “Three Gorges Project”, stands out as a symbol of long-term strategic collaboration.

China’s increased focus on livelihood improvement projects and infrastructure development in Pakistan also underscores the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a pillar of regional stability and economic resilience.

India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty—a critical bilateral water-sharing agreement—has raised serious concerns in Pakistan, where agriculture and drinking water access heavily depend on these river systems. Analysts view China’s move to fast-track the Mohmand Dam as a strategic and diplomatic countermeasure to India’s aggressive posture.