Recently, India announced the completion of the Shahpurkandi Dam on the Ravi River, which has become a key strategic project of India. India** has publicized the news, claiming that the completion of this dam will successfully cut off Pakistan's water supply, leaving Pakistan in a dilemma of water shortage. At this moment, we have seen India's obvious move to take advantage of China's unpreparedness and act behind the scenes. This article will analyze this matter in detail and reveal the mystery behind it.
First, the Ravi River is an important tributary of the middle reaches of the Indus River, originating in the Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh on the northwestern side of India, flowing through the Indo-Pakistani border and eventually emptying into the Qinab River in Pakistan. The river's geographical distribution makes Pakistan highly dependent on the Ravi River's water resources, especially in the eastern province of Punjab, which is not only the most densely populated region in Pakistan, but also a major agricultural producing area, accounting for 65% of the country's total arable land. However, due to their geographical location, most of these rivers need to pass through India first, which facilitates India's control over water resources.
As early as the 50s of the last century, India began planning to build the Shahpurkandi dam in the upper reaches of the Ravi River. However, due to financial problems, geopolitical disputes and other reasons, the progress of the project was slow and stalled for a while. It was not until 2018 that the project was re-designated as a national strategic project by India** and was reactivated. The dam was recently completed after 31 years of construction, heralding a huge victory for India in water control.
The main reason why India** is putting so much emphasis on the completion of the dam is that they believe it will completely cut off the water supply of the Ravi River and create a serious water crisis for Pakistan. Pakistan's population and agricultural areas are concentrated in river basins, which rely heavily on rivers originating in the Himalayas, including the Ravi River, for water resources. Once India gains full control of this water source, Pakistan will face no water, which will undoubtedly be worse for an already economically troubled country.
Why did India choose to move forward with this project at this time? Looking at India's actions in recent years, it is not difficult to see that India has frequently taken provocative attitudes towards China and its allies. On the Sino-Indian border, India pursues a so-called "forward policy", constantly deploying troops in disputed territories and even clashing. In addition, India has also carried out a series of insidious tactics against Pakistan, China's hardcore ally. India** has called this act "water terrorism" precisely because India's actions on water resources directly threaten the very existence of Pakistan.
However, this action is not an isolated incident, but is based on India's long-standing strategic approach to river water resources. In addition to the Ravi River, India has also tried to build dams on the upper reaches of rivers such as the Bis and Sutret rivers, aiming to gain control of Pakistan by controlling the water sources upstream. This is not just a competition for water resources, but also a means for India to try to suppress Pakistan and achieve its geopolitical goals.
Pakistan is not helpless in the face of India's provocations. Under the Indus Water Treaty, although India controls the upper reaches of rivers such as the Ravi River, Pakistan's construction of hydropower stations downstream is an effective way to curb India's interception. As early as the beginning of the 21st century, Pakistan began planning to build hydropower stations in the Nirum and Jelum river basins in response to Indian provocations. However, Pakistan has not been able to achieve this goal due to financial and technical constraints. It was not until China stepped in and built the Neelum-Jelum hydropower project for Pakistan that it provided significant support to Pakistan.
The Neelum Jelum Hydropower Project is China's largest hydropower project outside Pakistan, with a capacity of up to 9630,000 kilowatts The completion of the project has provided Pakistan with a stable supply of water and electricity**, effectively curbing India's strategic blockade on water resources. Through China-Pakistan cooperation, Pakistan has been able to stay one step ahead of India's actions and safeguard its own survival and development.
With the friendly cooperation between China and Pakistan, India's conspiracy will eventually be foiled. Pakistan is not only a friend of China, but also a staunch ally. In the face of India's provocations, China and Pakistan should strengthen solidarity and cooperation to jointly address various regional and global challenges. Only by uniting as one can we overcome all difficulties and defend our homeland and interests.
To sum up, India's claim that it had successfully cut off Pakistan's water resources at the time of the completion of the Shahpurkandi dam was actually India's behind-the-scenes attempt to suppress Pakistan by controlling its water resources. However, Pakistan has not passively accepted it, but through China-Pakistan cooperation, it has made important progress in the field of hydropower and effectively responded to India's provocations. In the future, China and Pakistan will continue to strengthen cooperation, jointly address various challenges, and maintain regional peace and stability.