India’s Shahpur Kandi Dam Move Threatens Pakistan’s Ravi Water Supply

February 18, 2026

India is preparing to stop the surplus flow of water from the Ravi River into Pakistan once the long-pending Shahpur Kandi dam project on the Punjab–Jammu & Kashmir border nears completion by March 31, 2026. The move comes amid a broader shift in policy after India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, which has already strained bilateral water cooperation.

Officials say the dam originally conceived decades ago and now nearly finished will enable India to fully utilize its share of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers for irrigation and hydropower, ending the regular surplus flow into Pakistani territory.

Strategic and Agricultural Implications

Under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, India has rights over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), while Pakistan controls the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). However, surplus waters from the Ravi have historically flowed unused into Pakistan due to limited storage infrastructure on the Indian side. The Shahpur Kandi project will capture these waters for Indian irrigation and power generation, particularly benefiting drought-prone districts in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.

This redirection of water which India insists is within its legal entitlement under treaty provisions is expected to bolster local agriculture, increase hydropower generation and improve water security in the northern states.

Pakistan’s Concerns and Water Stress

Pakistan has expressed deep concern over New Delhi’s water strategy, warning that reduced flows could worsen its water scarcity, especially as summers approach. The country’s agriculture sector heavily dependent on the Indus river system could face reduced irrigation supplies and heightened stress on crop production if downstream flows diminish. Pakistani authorities and experts have called on international forums to address what they see as a potential misuse of treaty arrangements.

Analysts suggest that as India leverages its rights over the eastern rivers, Pakistan may experience tighter water availability and related economic impacts, intensifying diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours.