In a strong and decisive move following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, India has cut off the flow of water to Pakistan from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River. This action sends a loud and clear message: those who sponsor terror will no longer enjoy Indian goodwill—or Indian water.
The Baglihar Dam, located in Ramban district of Jammu, has long been a source of tension between India and Pakistan. But this time, India isn’t waiting for diplomatic tables or arbitration hearings. The taps are turning off—literally. Water that once flowed freely across the border will now be held back, in accordance with India’s sovereign rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.
India is also preparing to take similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River. These hydroelectric projects give India the power to control the timing and quantity of water released, and now, that power is being rightfully used as a tool of strategic pressure.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank—has been honored by India for over six decades, even through wars, cross-border firing, and relentless terrorism from across the LoC. But the bloodshed in Pahalgam has marked a turning point. India is finally acting on its long-overdue warning: not a single drop to Pakistan if terror continues.
Pakistan has often run to international forums over India’s river projects while refusing to stop terror groups operating on its soil. It wanted water, aid, and diplomacy—while giving back only infiltration, explosions, and ceasefire violations.
Now, that era is ending.
India’s message is simple: if you shed innocent blood, don’t expect water in return. Baglihar is just the beginning. Kishanganga may be next. And the Indus Waters Treaty itself is no longer untouchable if Pakistan continues down this path.
This isn’t just resource management. This is strategic punishment.
Terror has a cost—and Pakistan is starting to pay.
