In a recent move following India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, the country has reportedly reduced the flow of water to Pakistan through the Jammu Baglihar dam on the Chenab River. There are also reports that the centre is planning similar steps on the Kishanganga Dam near Bandipora. The Baglihar Dam in Jammu’s Ramban district and the Kishanganga Dam in north Kashmir give India the ability to decide when to release water. This control over the timing and flow of water could influence how much water Pakistan receives and when.

Is This Permanent?

This move can be only temporary as the Baglihar dam has been built in line with the Indus Waters Treaty. The dam can hold a limited volume of water, after which water will have to be released. Yet the blocking of water, in the wake of the Pahalam terror attack, is a warning sign for Islamabad. According to the water treaty, Pakistan is entitled to unrestricted use. However, India can use this for agricultural purposes, hydroelectric generation or any other non-consumptive use.

Baglihar Project

The Baglihar project, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project, which means it has little to no water storage. It currently generates 900 megawatts of electricity, with its first phase completed in 2008 and the second in 2015. Similarly, the Kishanganga project, also a run-of-the-river facility, is situated on the Kishanganga River in Gurez, near the Line of Control, and has a capacity of 330 megawatts. Pakistan has raised objections to both projects, alleging that their designs and specifications violate the Indus Waters Treaty. It has also been claimed that the parameters of the Baglihar dam could provide India with a strategic advantage during times of conflict. Pakistan has earlier warned that any move by India to stop water would be considered an act of war and threatened to suspend all bilateral agreements, including the Simla Agreement that validates the Line of Control.

Indus Water Treaty Suspension

India decided to suspend the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960 with the help of the World Bank, has been a formal agreement between India and Pakistan on how to share and use the water from the Indus River and its tributaries.