Pakistan seeks India’s help as Chenab water level rises

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) – Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi claims that a sudden rise in the Chenab River's water level since December 7th indicates a unilateral release of water by India. Alarmed by the rise in water levels and the sudden change in flow, the neighboring country has written to India and appealed to the international community for assistance.

Various Pakistani media outlets have reported this. According to the leading newspaper, Dawn, on the night of December 7-8, India suddenly released approximately 58,000 cusecs of water from the Baglihar Dam, increasing the flow at the Marala Headworks. Subsequently, the flow was sharply reduced to 870-1,000 cusecs from December 13, which is significantly lower than the average of the past 10 years (4,000-10,000 cusecs).

Now, all the fuss is about this. As usual, Pakistan is calling it a violation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), which prohibits arbitrary emptying and filling of reservoirs in run-of-the-river projects. Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner has written to India and appealed to the international community regarding this.

The country that carried out the Pahalgam attack is calling it water terrorism and claiming that it occurred at a crucial time for the wheat harvest, which could damage the crop and lead to water shortages later. Following the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025, India suspended the IWT, leading to an increase in incidents of water withdrawals from the Chenab River. However, Pakistan maintains that the treaty remains binding. This incident has reignited the water dispute between the two countries, with Pakistan accusing India of unilateral action. There has been no official comment from India.

Located in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Baglihar Dam is 140 meters high and 350 meters long. It has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan since its construction. Pakistan objected to it during planning and even approached the World Bank in 2005, but the dam was ultimately completed under Indian control. Now, India can control the flow of water at will, a significant strategic tool. If India decides to release water from the dam at full capacity, more than 10,000 cubic meters of water could flow into Pakistan, causing widespread flooding, especially in areas already facing water shortages. India's control over this water supply puts significant pressure on Pakistan, potentially leading to a severe water crisis.