India has stopped the flow of water to Pakistan from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is now planning similar action at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River. This move comes after India’s broader decision to block water transfers from the Indus River system. Following discussions and safety tests, India began de-silting at Baglihar and lowered the dam’s sluice gates—cutting water flow to Pakistan by nearly 90%. A similar operation is expected soon at Kishanganga.
This action by India comes soon after Pakistan test-fired a surface-to-surface missile and blocked Indian ports for Pakistani ships. Now, India is preparing to carry out maintenance work on the Kishanganga Dam, which will temporarily stop all water flow downstream. Meanwhile, Pakistan has objected to the designs of both the Baglihar and Kishanganga dams.
India put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan on hold after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed several lives. A senior official stated that with the treaty now suspended, India is looking into ways to use the river waters for the benefit of its own people.
India is also moving ahead with four big hydropower projects on the Chenab River, all set to be completed by 2027–28. These include Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kwar (540 MW), and Ratle (850 MW). The projects are being developed in partnership with the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation.
