New Delhi:
A public spat broke out between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his predecessor Mehbooba Mufti on social media on Friday over requires revival of the Tulbul Navigation undertaking after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Ms Mufti accused Mr Abdullah of adopting “provocative” measures amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Mr Abdullah, nonetheless, alleged that the previous Chief Minister was attempting to attain “low-cost publicity factors” and “please some individuals” in Pakistan by opposing the concept.
The Tulbul Navigation undertaking – that seeks to rejuvenate the Jhelum-fed Wular lake in Bandipora district – was launched in 1987 however paused in 2007 amid objections from Pakistan that it violated the Indus Waters Treaty. With India suspending the Treaty on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror assault, Mr Abdullah on Thursday known as for resumption of labor within the undertaking on Wular Lake.
In a put up on X, the Chief Minister stated that for the reason that water pact with Pakistan has been stored in abeyance, “I ponder if we will resume the undertaking”.
“The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see within the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was began within the early Nineteen Eighties however needed to be deserted below strain from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.
The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see within the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was began within the early Nineteen Eighties however needed to be deserted below strain from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty. Now that the IWT has been “quickly suspended” I… pic.twitter.com/MQbGSXJKvq
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) Might 15, 2025
The Nationwide Convention chief stated that if accomplished, the Tulbul undertaking can assist in utilizing the Jhelum river for navigation functions. “It’s going to give us the benefit of permitting us to make use of the Jhelum for navigation. It’s going to additionally enhance the ability era of downstream energy tasks, particularly in winter,” he added.
Underneath the Indus Waters Treaty governing six frequent rivers, all of the water of the jap rivers – Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi amounting to round 33 million acre toes (MAF) yearly – has been allotted to India for unrestricted use. The waters of western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – amounting to round 135 MAF yearly have been assigned largely to Pakistan.
Ms Mufti, nonetheless, launched a scathing assault on Mr Abdullah and labelled his name as “irresponsible and dangerously provocative”.
The Chief Minister’s name to revive the Tulbul Navigation Challenge amid tensions between India and Pakistan is “deeply unlucky”, she stated in a put up on X. “At a time when each nations have simply stepped again from the brink of a full-fledged battle – with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt by way of the lack of harmless lives, widespread destruction and immense struggling – such statements should not solely irresponsible but in addition dangerously provocative,” she stated.
The Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) chief stated the individuals of the Union Territory deserve peace as a lot as anybody else within the nation. “Weaponising one thing as important and life-giving as water is just not solely inhumane but in addition dangers internationalising what ought to stay a bilateral matter,” she stated.
J&Okay Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s name to revive the Tulbul Navigation Challenge amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unlucky. At a time when each nations have simply stepped again from the brink of a full-fledged battle—with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt… https://t.co/LZrVAhIukQ
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) Might 16, 2025
The previous Chief Minister’s feedback evoked a pointy response from Mr Abdullah, who accused her of trying to “please some individuals throughout the border”.
“Really what’s unlucky is that together with your blind lust to attempt to rating low-cost publicity factors and please some individuals sitting throughout the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of many largest historic betrayals of the pursuits of the individuals of J&Okay,” he informed his rival.
“I’ve at all times opposed this treaty and I’ll proceed to take action. Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is under no circumstances, form, dimension or type warmongering, it is about correcting a historic injustice that denied the individuals of J&Okay the suitable to make use of our water for ourselves,” he added.
Really what’s unlucky is that together with your blind lust to attempt to rating low-cost publicity factors & please some individuals sitting throughout the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of many largest historic betrayals of the pursuits of the individuals of J&Okay. I’ve… https://t.co/j55YwE2r39
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) Might 16, 2025
Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom, Ms Mufti stated in response, because the back-and-forth continued. “Nevertheless, it is value recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab as soon as advocated for accession to Pakistan for over twenty years after shedding energy. However put up being reinstated as Chief Minister he out of the blue reversed his stance by aligning with India,” she stated.
Quite the opposite, she added, the PDP has persistently upheld its convictions and commitments, not like the NC whose loyalties have shifted dramatically in line with political expediency.
“We needn’t stoke tensions or undertake warmongering rhetoric to validate our dedication. Our actions converse for themselves,” she stated.
Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom. Nevertheless, it is value recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab as soon as advocated for accession to Pakistan for over twenty years after shedding energy. However put up being reinstated as Chief Minister he out of the blue reversed his stance by… https://t.co/2jSBku731K
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) Might 16, 2025
Mr Abdullah informed Ms Mufti that she will maintain “advocating the pursuits of anybody you wish to & I will maintain advocating for the pursuits of the individuals of J&Okay to make use of our personal rivers for our personal profit”.
“Is that basically the most effective you are able to do? Taking low-cost photographs at an individual you your self have known as Kashmir’s tallest chief. I will rise above the gutter you wish to take this dialog to by preserving the late Mufti Sahib and ‘North Pole South Pole’ out of this,” he stated.
“I am not going to cease the water, simply use extra of it for ourselves. Now I feel I will do some actual work & you may maintain posting,” he added.
Is that basically the most effective you are able to do? Taking low-cost photographs at an individual you your self have known as Kashmir’s tallest chief. I will rise above the gutter you wish to take this dialog to by preserving the late Mufti Sahib and “North Pole South Pole” out of this. You retain advocating the… https://t.co/R6wGL2o4tL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) Might 16, 2025
In a separate put up later, the Chief Minister shared a information report from 2016, which quoted Ms Mufti as saying that “Jammu and Kashmir has suffered as a result of Indus Waters Treaty”. “Simply leaving this on the market as a result of “consistency” is in such quick provide,” he stated.
Simply leaving this on the market as a result of “consistency” is in such quick provide. pic.twitter.com/jn9x2zAqwS
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) Might 16, 2025
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed on September 19, 1960, units out a mechanism for cooperation and data trade between India and Pakistan on using the waters of quite a lot of cross-border rivers. India has been given the suitable to generate hydroelectricity by way of run of the river tasks on the western rivers topic to particular standards for design and operation. Pakistan has the suitable to lift objections on the design of Indian hydroelectric tasks on western rivers.
Relations between India and Pakistan, that took a nosedive in 2019 with the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, deteriorated additional after terrorists shot useless 26 vacationers in Pahalgam on April 22. India responded by launching Operation Sindoor, focusing on 9 terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This escalated bilateral tensions because it led to strikes and counter-strikes between the 2 nations. On Might 10, India and Pakistan reached an settlement to cease all firing and army motion on land, air and sea.