Tulbul Barrage Sparks Political Clash Between Omar Abdullah And Mehbooba Mufti

Decades-old infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir has reignited political tensions and sparked a war of words between two of the region’s most prominent political figures: National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti. At the heart of the renewed clash lies the Tulbul Navigation Project , a dormant but geopolitically sensitive initiative once halted due to Pakistan’s objections under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

The controversy began after Abdullah took to social media platform X to pitch for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. He argued that with the "temporary suspension" of the IWT, there was a renewed opportunity to restart the project, which could revitalize commercial trade, tourism, and winter power generation along the Jhelum river.

“The barrage was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty,” Mr. Abdullah posted on “Now that the IWT has been temporarily suspended, I wonder if we will be able to resume the project. It will give us the advantage of using the Jhelum for navigation and improve the power generation of downstream power projects, especially in winter.”

According to The Hindu the Wular Lake project, also known as the Tulbul Navigation Project involves the construction of a barrage at the mouth of the Wular Lake in Bandipora district. First initiated in 1984 at Ningli, the project is designed to regulate water discharge from the lake during the lean season (October to February). This would ensure year-round navigability of the Jhelum river — a lifeline for the Valley — and support trade, transport, and electricity generation during Kashmir’s harsh winters. However, construction was halted in 1987 due to opposition from Pakistan, which claims the project violates the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a World Bank-brokered agreement governing water-sharing between the two nations.

Mr. Abdullah’s public call to revive the project has not gone down well with the PDP. Reacting sharply, Mufti labelled the statement “a provocation” and criticized the timing, as per PTI reports, especially after the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

“Mr. Abdullah’s call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan is deeply unfortunate,” said Mufti. “At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war, such statements are not only irresponsible but dangerously provocative.”

She added that “weaponising something as essential and life-giving as water is not only inhumane but also risks internationalising what should remain a bilateral matter.”

Abdullah, in turn, dismissed the criticism, accusing Mufti of playing politics and ignoring the historical injustice meted out to Jammu and Kashmir through the IWT. “With your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points and please some people sitting across the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he retorted. “Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way warmongering.”

The spat also saw personal barbs being exchanged. In a pointed remark, Mufti referenced historical flip-flops in NC's political stance: “It’s worth recalling that your esteemed grandfather 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.”

She contrasted this with PDP’s approach, claiming her party had “consistently upheld its convictions and commitments” unlike the “political expediency” shown by the NC.