India has reduced water flows through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River, with plans to extend similar restrictions to the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River, according to PTI.
The action follows India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
The Baglihar and Kishanganga dams, long disputed for their impact on Pakistan’s water supply, allow India to control release timings.
Pakistan relies on these rivers for 80 per cent of its irrigation. The source noted India’s actions aim to pressure Pakistan, amid fears of an imminent military strike.
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, announced on April 23, follows India’s punitive measures against Pakistan, including downgrading diplomatic ties, banning Pakistani ships from Indian ports, and halting imports. The attack, attributed to The Resistance Front, prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to vow justice.
Pakistan condemned the treaty suspension as an “act of war,” warning that stopping water flows would escalate tensions. Former minister Bilawal Bhutto declared in Sukkur, “The Indus is ours, whether water flows or their blood.” Pakistan has violated the Line of Control ceasefire for 10 consecutive nights, with India retaliating.