India Accused of Manipulating Indus River Flow

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Musadik Malik, has alleged that India is strategically managing the Indus River’s water flow to disrupt Pakistan’s agricultural cycles and endanger food supplies. He stated that this is being done through a pattern of withholding and releasing water.

During an interview in London, Malik pointed out that Pakistan experienced water shortages during vital crop sowing periods in the last month. He asserted that the purpose of these actions is to destabilize Pakistan’s crop production and food security, though the government is still assessing the extent of the damage.

The situation escalated following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, after which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration reportedly suspended the Indus Waters Treaty.

Earlier in May, as tensions rose, the Chenab River’s water flow to Pakistan was reportedly reduced by nearly 90% of its typical volume, as stated by Muhammad Khalid Idrees Rana, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority.

According to reports, India has been conducting flushing and desilting operations at the Baglihar and Salal hydropower projects on the Chenab, potentially affecting regular water flows, with further maintenance planned during the treaty’s suspension.

Malik commented that India’s lack of storage dams has limited their impact so far, but he cautioned that the construction of such dams would be considered a hostile act, reiterating the government’s stance.

He mentioned that Pakistan has responded to India’s requests to discuss the treaty over the past year, acknowledging the growing strain on water resources due to climate change and population growth in both countries. However, India has not specified which treaty clauses it wishes to revise.

Referring to the recent military clashes, Malik noted that the Trump administration, along with other nations like the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, played a crucial role in securing a ceasefire.

Malik is part of a delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, tasked with presenting Pakistan’s perspective on the conflict and countering what they view as New Delhi’s misinformation. The delegation is currently in London, following a visit to the United States, and will proceed to Brussels.