First Chenab, now Jhelum: How India is choking Pakistan’s water lifelines after Indus Treaty suspension

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has taken another bold step in its escalating response to Pakistan: actively reducing the flow of river waters that flow into Pakistan under the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty. After formally placing the treaty in "abeyance," New Delhi has now begun implementing physical and infrastructural measures to limit Pakistan’s access to shared river water.

After cutting off water flow from Baglihar Dam on Chenab River, one of the key rivers allocated to Pakistan under the 1960 treaty, India is reportedly planning restrictions at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River, signalling a clear intent to weaponize water as a tool of coercive diplomacy.

India has cut off water flow to Pakistan from the Baglihar Dam, following through on its decision not to allow a “single drop” to go to the neighbouring country from the Indus rivers. The hydroelectric dams Baglihar in Ramban district in Jammu division and Kishanganga in north Kashmir offer India the ability to regulate the timing of water releases.

Desilting at the Baglihar dam and lowering of the sluice gates has reduced the downstream flow to Pakistan by up to 90 per cent, according to an official from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Last week, India initiated a process to expand the water storage capabilities of the Baglihar and Salal hydroelectric power plants located in Jammu and Kashmir. Reuters, quoting sources, reported that this 'reservoir flushing,' aimed at sediment removal, commenced on Thursday under the direction of the state-owned NHPC Ltd and local authorities.

Reservoir flushing is a method of removing accumulated sediment by releasing water at a high flow rate to restore a dam's storage capacity.

According to the report by Hindustan Times, India could begin desilting operations at the Kishanganga Dam to further curb the flow to water to Pakistan.

The report further stated that the large hydropower project in the Gurez valley, located in the northwestern Himalayas, is also expected to undergo maintenance "very soon," which will involve halting all downstream water flow from the dam.

Islamabad has objected to the hydroelectric power plant on the Kishanganga River, alleging that it violates the Indus Waters Treaty. The dam allows India to diver the water from the river into Jammu and Kashmir for power generation.

According to a report in the Economic Times, India is anticipated to approach the World Bank regarding a disagreement over the water-sharing treaty. New Delhi will likely ask the neutral expert designated by the World Bank to suspend the ongoing proceedings concerning the Kishanganga-Ratle hydel project under the IWT.

India’s decision to block or divert water that would typically flow into Pakistan marks a fundamental shift in its strategic posture. Until now, India had largely respected the treaty — even during wars and terror attacks — maintaining the moral high ground as a responsible upper riparian state. But the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of several Indian soldiers and was traced back to Pakistan-based terror groups, appears to have crossed a red line.

By invoking a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and following it up with actual curbs on water release, India is sending a stark message: there will be real, material costs for Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism.