A heated exchange erupted on X between Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former CM Mehbooba Mufti over the possible revival of the Tulbul Navigation Project. Abdullah’s remarks hinting at resuming the project—despite the Indus Water Treaty being suspended—drew sharp criticism from Mufti, who called the move “deeply irresponsible and dangerously provocative.” In response, Abdullah accused Mufti of seeking cheap publicity and trying to please political allies in Pakistan.
Omar Abdullah posted a video of Wular Lake on Thursday, reminding that the Tulbul Navigation Project was supposed to be rebuilt, but the civil works were halted under Pakistan’s pressure, citing a violation of the Indus Water Treaty.
“Since the Indus Water Treaty is suspended, I am wondering if we could resume the project,” Omar Abdullah shared on X. To which, Mehbooba Mufti retorted that it is deeply unfortunate to bring up this call amid ongoing tensions, when both countries have taken back from going to war and with Jammu and Kashmir, bearing the brunt of its consequences.
The Tulbul Navigation Project was launched in 1987 to regulate water flow from the Jhelum River to the Wular Lake in North Kashmir’s Bandipora. The project has been paused since 2007.
Suggesting that the project can now be restarted as the pact no longer holds, he also added that this would help power generation of downstream projects in Jammu and Kashmir, especially during the winter.
However, Mufti called him out on his public display for rejuvenating the project, reiterating that the Indus Water Treaty is being used as a weaponising and inhumane tool in the current situation, to which the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be affected.
“Our people deserve peace as much as anyone else in the country. Weaponizing something as essential and life giving as water is not only inhumane but also risks internationalizing what should remain a bilateral matter,” Mufti replied
Responding to this, Omar Abdullah tweeted that Mufti is trying to please someone across the borders, and refusing to accept that IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of J&K.
“Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way, shape, size or form warmongering, it’s about correcting a historic injustice that denied the people of J&K the right to use our water for ourselves”, he said.
The mufti then took a swing to subtly apply the pressure, conveying that “time will remind who is appeasing whom.” She also criticised the shifting allegiances of Sheikh Abdullah before and after he became the Chief Minister of J&K
“Sheikh Sahab once advocated for accession to Pakistan for over two decades after losing power. But post being reinstated as Chief Minister, he suddenly reversed his stance by aligning with India,” Mufti shot back.
Omar Abdullah has countered Mufti’s allegations with a recent post, showing Mehbooba Mufti’s stance on the IWT accord on a news headline that says, “Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to the Indus Water Treaty.”
The latest on the public spat between them shows Mehbooba Mufti disparaging the claim and saying that Omar Abdullah’s request for the project is a reckless policy designed to derail the ceasefire and fuel instability.
She also shares that in 2017, the PDP-BJP alliance agreed on two projects that would be returned to compensate for the losses from the Indus Water Treaty.
“But let me be clear – We never advocated scrapping the treaty. Such a move could heighten tensions and once again place J&K at the epicenter of conflict. Our resources like water must be used for life, not as weapons,” replied Mufti.
