China Fast-Tracks Mohmand Dam Amid Indus Water Tensions

China boosts pace of dam project to counter India’s treaty threats

P.c. Daily Times

China Fast-Tracks Mohmand Dam Amid Indus Water Tensions


In a decisive move aligned with recent geopolitical shifts, China has accelerated the construction of the Mohmand Dam in Pakistan, a key initiative under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This development comes in direct response to India’s threats to revoke the World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty—a foundational agreement that governs the shared use of crucial water resources in South Asia.

According to the South China Morning Post, concrete filling for the Mohmand Dam has officially begun, marking a major step forward in the dam’s timeline. Originally set for completion in 2026, the project is now on a fast track, with Chinese officials underscoring its strategic and cooperative significance in the region.

P.c. Daily Times

Developed by the state-owned China Energy Engineering Corporation since 2019, the Mohmand Dam is a multi-purpose hydropower project designed to address Pakistan’s critical needs in flood control, irrigation, water supply, and electricity generation. Once completed, it will deliver 800 megawatts of electricity and supply 300 million gallons of clean drinking water per day to Peshawar, significantly enhancing the urban infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This shift in pace follows the Pahalgam incident, which has further strained India-Pakistan relations. China's increased involvement and its vocal support for Pakistan's infrastructure ambitions reflect a growing strategic alignment between the two nations, particularly in the face of shared concerns over regional water security.

Beyond the Mohmand Dam, China is also heavily invested in the Diamer-Bhasha Dam—often dubbed Pakistan's "Three Gorges Project"—highlighting its broader commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s water and energy resilience through mega-scale developments.

This rapid advancement of key infrastructure projects under CPEC not only emphasizes China’s rising influence in South Asia but also signals the role of water as a pivotal factor in regional diplomacy and security. The Mohmand Dam now stands at the crossroads of environmental need and strategic intent, reshaping the future of cooperation in the region.