India Restricts Water Flow to Pakistan via Chenab Dam

New Delhi has ceased the release of water to Pakistan from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is set to limit discharges from the Kishanganga project on the Jhelum River. This development follows India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a move prompted by heightened tensions after the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Baglihar Dam, located in Ramban, Jammu, has long been a source of friction between the two nations, with Pakistan previously seeking World Bank arbitration over its operations. Similarly, the Kishanganga Dam in north Kashmir has faced diplomatic and legal challenges, particularly concerning its effects on the Neelum River, a Jhelum tributary. A source noted that these hydroelectric facilities enable India to control the timing of water releases.

The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960 under World Bank mediation, has governed the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. Pakistan has strongly opposed India’s suspension of the treaty, warning that any attempt to block water flows would be considered an act of war.

This escalation comes in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, which has intensified strained relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors. India’s actions, including the water flow restrictions, are part of a broader diplomatic response to the incident.