India weaponizes water to choke Pakistan in open violation of Indus Waters Treaty

New Delhi: India yet again has overridden the Indus Waters Treaty and has begun two hydropower projects in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, involving enhanced water storage capacity, provoking ominous concerns regarding the treaty violations, thereby affecting regional the tensions, with the escalation between the two nuclear armed countries.

As reported in international media, India did not give Pakistan any advance notice on these developments in the breach of the Indus Waters Treaty, which is a treaty of law binding on the parties and was brokered by the World Bank in 1960. It expressly forbids any logical action that could interfere with the flow of water to the lower riparian state, i.e., Pakistan.

India, which already has declared the treaty’s suspension after the April 22 Pahalgam tragic incident, has further taken to project works on the Chenab River without any negotiation with its counterpart. After meddling with the water flow of the Baglihar Dam, India, as reported, has now choked the gates of the Salal Dam, allowing a meager downstream flow of water to Pakistan of approximately only 5,300 cusecs.

The experts are of opine that these moves constitute `water aggression’ and are strategically aimed at intimidating Pakistan, warning that this could lead to increased tensions in an already fragile region.

Pakistan has blatantly rejected India’s claims linking it to the Pahalgam episode and insists that the Indus Waters Treaty is still valid, as Islamabad is intending to raise the issue in the international forums, labeling the behavior of India as illegal and provocative.