J&K Water War: Mehbooba Slams Omar’s Push for Tulbul Project Amidst Tensions
Mehbooba Mufti Condemns Omar Abdullah’s Push for Tulbul Navigation Project
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticized her predecessor, Omar Abdullah, for suggesting the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Mufti called Abdullah’s remarks ‘provocative’ and ‘deeply irresponsible’ given the recent escalation in the region.
In a statement released on Friday, Mufti emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve peace and stability, not actions that could further exacerbate the conflict. She warned against ‘weaponizing water,’ a resource essential for life, stating that it threatens to internationalize an issue that should remain solely between India and Pakistan.
Background on the Tulbul Project
The Tulbul Navigation Project, which aimed to build a barrage on the Jhelum River, was initiated in the early 1980s. However, it was abandoned under pressure from Pakistan, which cited the Indus Water Treaty, a pact that governs the sharing of water resources between the two countries.
Recently, Omar Abdullah, the current Chief Minister of J&K, suggested that the project could be revived now that the Indus Water Treaty has been ‘temporarily suspended.’ He argued that it would benefit J&K by allowing for navigation on the Jhelum River and boosting power generation, particularly during the winter months.
Rising Tensions
Mehbooba Mufti’s criticism comes at a time of heightened tension between India and Pakistan. Both countries have recently engaged in military skirmishes along the Line of Control, the de facto border between the two nations in the disputed territory of Kashmir. Mufti expressed concern that any move that could escalate tensions further would have devastating consequences for the people of the region.
