In a fresh act of water aggression, India has once again violated established norms by halting the flow of River Neelum through the Kishanganga Dam, sharply reducing water levels and raising serious concerns over regional stability and humanitarian safety.
According to News reports, the flow of River Neelum has dropped by nearly 40 percent following India’s move to restrict discharge from the Kishanganga Dam. This abrupt disruption, coming despite the ongoing ceasefire, is being seen as a deliberate attempt to weaponize water resources and exert pressure on Pakistan.
In recent weeks, India had released excess water from the same dam without prior warning, causing a sudden surge in the river’s level. The unpredictability of these actions has heightened the threat of both flooding and drought-like conditions for communities downstream.
Under normal circumstances, summer brings increased water flow due to glacial melt in the region. However, India’s manipulative control over the dam has created artificial and dangerous fluctuations—either inundating low-lying areas or depriving them of essential water, exacerbating ecological and human vulnerabilities.
Tensions further escalated following the April 22 terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Just four days later, on April 26, India unleashed unannounced water releases into River Jhelum from its upstream territories. The sudden influx triggered flash flooding in Hattian Bala, Muzaffarabad, forcing the local administration to declare a water emergency.
The River Jhelum, which enters Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Indian-occupied Anantnag via Uri and Chakothi, rose rapidly, spreading panic across riverbank communities. Emergency announcements were made from local mosques, urging residents to evacuate or take precautionary measures.
India’s escalating water aggression also coincides with its threats to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty—a cornerstone agreement that governs water sharing between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Analysts warn that such provocations not only breach international obligations but also risk triggering a wider conflict in an already volatile region.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the international community to take notice of India’s use of water as a coercive tool. The current situation underscores the urgent need for renewed diplomatic and legal mechanisms to ensure that transboundary water resources are managed responsibly, transparently, and in accordance with established treaties.
