When the land of the Indian subcontinent was partitioned by the British, it brought not only land disputes but also the issue of water distribution among the two states, India and Pakistan.

The six rivers that flow in the subcontinent, mainly the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej are considered the lifeline of these agrarian countries, and any modification to their rate of flow can spell doom for the crops.

In 1948, India blocked the Ferozepur headworks, cutting off the water supply to Pakistan’s Dipalpur and Upper Bari Doab Canals. This triggered significant concerns in the nascent Pakistani state, as being the lower riparian state to a hostile antagonistic India does not spell well for Pakistani Interests.

The threat and concerns caused by the blockage of the rivers led Pakistan to seriously consider its future. After almost two decades of partition, an agreement was finally reached between the two countries, called Indus Water Treaty.

The treaty was signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960, under the auspices of the World Bank

The treaty was signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960, under the auspices of the World Bank. The treaty fixed and delimited the rights of both countries regarding the use of water in the Indus River System.

It gave 3 Rivers: Ravi, Beas & Sutlej to India, and gave Pakistan the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

Another strategic dam is being constructed on the Neelum River in India, called the Kishanganga hydroelectric project, which will reduce the flow of water in the Neelum Valley by 21%

Woefully, India is busy in building dams on all the rivers flowing from the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). India has already built more than 14 hydroelectric plants on the Chenab River, which could be used against Pakistan if India chooses to embark on any future endeavor against our state. Another strategic dam is being constructed on the Neelum River in India, called the Kishanganga hydroelectric project, which will reduce the flow of water in the Neelum Valley by 21%.

Furthermore, the construction of the Balighar hydropower project created an acute shortage of water in the Chenab and could be used to create a strategic drought as it has the capacity to store about 15 billion cusecs of water. Also, the Chutak dam being built on the river Suru could be used to strategically submerge the city of Sakardu, and endanger the proposed Bhasha dam in Pakistan.

The Sawalkot project which is under construction in IOK, poses the greatest threat to our water security. This project sits higher than the other projects and can render Pakistani rivers vulnerable to water shortage.

Furthermore, with the recent Pahalgam incident in the IOK, India has unilaterally suspended the Indus Water Treaty, acting on its ever-present ambition of hydro-hegemony over Pakistan, giving rise to tensions in the region.

Another facet of this Indian water terrorism is that they withhold or release water on their whim, causing severe damage to the lower riparian state. When they withhold water, it causes the land to dry up, destroying crops and causing billions in damages. Similarly, sudden release of water causes intense flooding in the Pakistani region, resulting in loss of life and financial losses. Thus, India is playing a silent yet lethal war with Pakistan, hollowing it out from the inside.

Unfortunately, Pakistan has been stricken with poor governance and corruption that has left it behind in the world. Most of the new initiatives taken by the Federal government are hit by scandals and controversies, some mired in truth and some in misadvice.

Kalabagh Dam is a tombstone of an unfortunate project that was subjected to scandals and left behind in the annals of time

Kalabagh Dam is a tombstone of an unfortunate project that was subjected to scandals and left behind in the annals of time. If executed, it could provide this water-scarce country with some of the relief that it desperately desires. Due to limited storage capacity, Pakistan can only save up to 10% of its yearly river water flows, while the world has reached an average of 40%.

One canal and water supply project, three hydropower projects, and five dams are planned to be constructed under WAPDA’s ten projects from 2023-2029

However, all is not lost, as the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has declared this decade as a “decade of dams”. In total, one canal and water supply project, three hydropower projects, and five dams are planned to be constructed under WAPDA’s ten projects from 2023-2029.

Similarly, De-sedimentation projects need to be undertaken to clean and increase the storage capacity of the present dams in our country to ensure effective and uninterrupted storage and supply.

Furthermore, the National Water Policy (2018) needs to be re-evaluated to meet the current issues and challenges that Pakistan is facing in the recent wake of Indian aggression.

Only through foresight and action can Pakistan hope to resist and possibly overcome the devastating impacts of hydro-hegemony and water terrorism

The looming threat of hydro-hegemony and Indian water terrorism is no longer a distant fear of Pakistan, but a present reality that if left unchecked, will cause unimaginable consequences to Pakistan. This silent yet deadly warfare, fought not with bullets but with water, has the potential to destabilize Pakistan’s agriculture, economy, and national interest.

Thus, Pakistan must rise above its internal inefficiencies and build a resilient water infrastructure, assert its rights through international legal mechanisms, and evolve its policy to tackle the rising threats. Only through foresight and action can Pakistan hope to resist and possibly overcome the devastating impacts of hydro-hegemony and water terrorism.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia