Srinagar: In a significant move following the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India has reportedly curtailed the flow of water through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is preparing to implement similar restrictions at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River. This development comes shortly after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty as part of a series of retaliatory actions against Pakistan, according to a PTI report citing official sources.
The Baglihar Dam, located in Ramban district of Jammu, has long been a point of friction between the two nations. Pakistan previously sought arbitration from the World Bank over its construction and water regulation capabilities. Similarly, the Kishanganga Dam in north Kashmir has drawn criticism from Islamabad due to its impact on the Neelum River, a tributary of the Jhelum.
A source familiar with the situation told PTI that these hydroelectric installations give India the capacity to manage the timing and volume of water releases — a strategic advantage as diplomatic and military tensions escalate. “India has the capability to regulate flows through these dams, and it’s leveraging that now,” the source said.
These rivers are vital to Pakistan, supplying critical irrigation and drinking water. Any disruption has far-reaching implications, especially at a time when Islamabad is already grappling with economic strain and growing domestic discontent.
The move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty has been met with a sharp response from Pakistan, which has warned that any attempt to block or divert river flows would be interpreted as an act of war. The tensions are underscored by continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the International Border, with cross-border fire reported for ten consecutive nights. The Indian Army has responded with equivalent force.
India’s actions follow a wave of measures aimed at isolating Pakistan diplomatically and economically. These include downgrading diplomatic representation, banning Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports, and suspending imports from the neighboring country.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to bring those behind the Pahalgam attack — which killed 26 people, mostly tourists — to justice, fueling speculation about possible further military or strategic actions.
Adding to the volatility, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto issued a fiery warning to India in response to the water-related moves.
“I would like to stand here in Sukkur by the Indus and tell India that the Indus is ours and the Indus will remain ours, whether water flows in this Indus or their blood,” he had said.
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The cumulative developments have pushed relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors into a dangerous new phase, with both water diplomacy and military posturing taking center stage.
