In the wake of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has left Pakistan rattled. This has compelled Pakistan to request its ally China to expedite the construction of the Mohmand Dam on the Swat River to bolster its water security. On Monday, China's state media stated, "In response to India's recent threat to cut off water supply, work on Pakistan's 'key' dam project has been accelerated."
Source: aajtak
India Today independently verified through satellite imagery that construction on the Mohmand Dam project accelerated as early as September 2024, months before India suspended the Indus Water Treaty.
Source: aajtak
Satellite images from the European Space Agency last September showed the main rock-fill embankments of the Mohmand Dam taking shape. Soon after, new structures mushroomed in the vicinity, aimed at support and auxiliary purposes.
The latest satellite image from May 17, 2025, shows substantial construction of cement-like material beside the rock walls, indicating that the project has reached advanced stages of concrete pouring and structural enhancements.
Source: aajtak
India's effort to restrict Pakistan's access to Indus river water is linked to its approach with the Afghan government. Reports suggest India has also accelerated its work on the Shahtoot Dam project along the Kabul River in Afghanistan.
What did India and Afghanistan discuss?
On May 15, a conversation between India's Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Afghan Foreign Minister revolved around dam construction. The Shahtoot Dam is set to provide 146 million cubic meters of potable water for 2 million Kabul residents and irrigate 4,000 hectares of land. It will also supply drinking water to a new town called Deh Sabz on Kabul's outskirts.
This project has raised concerns in Pakistan, fearing that the dam could disrupt the flow of the Kabul River and further limit water access. Since 2001, India has invested about $2 billion in Afghanistan's development.
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Afghan experts deem the dam crucial for future water security. However, in Islamabad, officials perceive it as part of India's broader strategy to strengthen control over Pakistan's water supply, especially by suspending the IWT.
According to Pakistani media outlet Dawn, once the Shahtoot Dam and other planned dams in the Kabul River Basin are completed, the river's flow might decrease by 16 to 17 percent.
