Pakistan's Water Engagement with China Raises Strategic Concerns

 

As increasing water insecurity deepens, Pakistan has increasingly turned to face China. for water infrastructure and resource cooperation. A relationship once seen as a solution to Pakistan’s water crisis is now triggering strategic alarm."

 Critics warn against the geopolitical intricacy of South Asian water-sharing, the eco-sensitive aspects of Chinese-supported projects, and the risks associated with excessive reliance on a other country for something    to be  water.

This blog delves into the reasons behind Pakistan's water entanglement with China, the initiatives involved, and why such an approach is slowly but surely starting to cause serious regional and international concerns.

The Water Crisis in Pakistan: A Deepening Challenge

"Pakistan’s water crisis has reached an acute stage, placing it among the most pressing water-related challenges globally.

A United   report estimates that The country   dry up by the year 2040 if drastic changes are not undertaken. With more than 90% of its water being used in agriculture, a booming population, and dilapidated infrastructure, Pakistan's freshwater resources are facing mounting pressure

"The crisis is further exacerbated by insufficient storage capacity and persistent governance and management shortcomings."

As much  to be  it relies on the Indus River system, Pakistan only stores around 10% of its river flows per year—below the advisable 40% level for water-secure countries. This inadequacy has forced Islamabad to pursue foreign collaborations to supplement water infrastructure to ensure a   supply.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Water Project

One of the most notable avenues for cooperation between the Two countries are the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar project for improving the infrastructure, energy, and connectivity. Within this construction, water has become an increasingly popular  room  of interest

Some of the major projects come under this category:

Diamer-Bhasha Dam: The dam, which is to be built in Gilgit-Baltistan, is meant to improve water storage and produce 4,500 MW of hydropower. Though it is mainly financed and built with Chinese support, its   in the The contested  room  has evoked stringent criticism from India and increased regional tensions.

"The establishment of a seawater desalination facility in Gwadar, funded by China, underscores a strategic approach to addressing the city's chronic water shortages, in line with its broader regional development strategy."

Though small in capability, it represents China's increasing stakes in Pakistan's domestic infrastructure even in elementary utilities.

Hydroelectric Projects in Kashmir: Certain CPEC-related projects have been proposed or conceptualized in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. These are not just environmentally and displacement-related concerns but  to be  set off diplomatic concerns for India, which claims the  room

Even with these efforts, China has continued to be a little hesitant to broaden water, energy, and climate cooperation under CPEC. In 2023, Beijing decided not to to deepen ties in these areas during high-level bilateral dialogue, citing priorities at home and potentially the geopolitical delicacy of collaboration on water matters.

Strategic Concerns: Why the Partnership Raises Eyebrows

1. Overdependence on China

Pakistan's increasing dependence upon China for   infrastructure challenges sovereignty and independence in the long run. Water, in contrast to roads or power plants, is a survival resource. The transfer of strategic control or access to Chinese companies—albeit in soft infrastructure such  to be  planning and advisory services—may be prejudicing Pakistan's independence

Much like Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port or specific African mineral agreements, China's entry into crucial industries has in the past accompanied long-term strings. People are concerned that what starts  to be  a form of support eventually turns into leverage.

2. Impacts on the Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 between India and Pakistan has stood the test of war and hostilities. China's increasing involvement in the water strategy of Pakistan, especially through projects in the disputed areas such  to be Gilgit-Baltistan is able to destroy this fragile balance.

If Pakistan uses dams or water to solidify its claims or manipulate flow that it has China build, India could respond in the form of retaliating, which would undercut or ultimately destroy the IWT. "The potential ramifications could adversely impact more than a billion individuals residing in the two countries."

3. Regional Power Shift

Water security has historically been coupled with South Asian regional politics. China's entry into Pakistan's In practice, the The water  produces it a player in a trilateral hydropolitics with India. "Already controlling the Brahmaputra upstream and expanding its reach into Pakistan, China could gain significant leverage over South Asia’s water future."

This hypothetical "water pincer" approach, whereby China may pressurize India both from Tibet (Brahmaputra) and from Pakistan (Indus system), has not escaped attention by Indian planners and western commentators

4. Environmental and Social Concerns

Big dam schemes in mountainous regions have serious environmental consequences: loss of habitat, seismic hazards, and displacement of people. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam, For example, will inundate archaeological sites and displace thousands of people. China's record in environmental norms under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects has usually been reproached for ignoring long-term sustainability for the sake of speedy implementation.

Pakistan's own institutions  to be  have problems with environmental governance, and hence it becomes a challenge to effectively mitigate these risks Whenever major foreign-initiated projects are streamlined.