India-pakistan tension: India has taken another action against Pakistan after suspending the Indus Water Agreement. Now India has stopped the water of Chenab river through Bagalihar Dam. Similarly, the Jhelum is planning to take tough steps about the Kishanganga dam on the river. A source said that the Bagihar Hydroelectric Dam in Ramban, Jammu and the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Dam in North Kashmir have the ability to regulate the time of release of water.

India decided to suspend the decades-old treaty after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. 26 people were killed in this attack, mostly tourists. The Indus Water Treaty, which was conducted by the World Bank’s mediation, has controlled the use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.

Controversy over Baggihar Dam

The Bagihar Dam has been a matter of long dispute between the two neighbors. Pakistan has demanded the World Bank’s mediation in this matter. Pakistan also has objections due to its influence on Neelam, a tributary of Jhelum, especially about the Kishanganga dam.

History of Indus Water Agreement

The Indus Water Agreement, signed by Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan in 1960. It was a historical agreement made in the World Bank’s mediation. Its aim was to avoid the future conflict between India and Pakistan over water resources. Under this treaty, India got the right to Ravi, Sutlej, Beas. The control of Indus, Chenab, Jhelum was assigned to Pakistan. However, India got limited irrigation, power generation and domestic use exemption.

Pakistan’s lifeline Indus?

The mainstay of Pakistan’s water-based economy is the Indus river system. With its help, Pakistan uses 93% of Western rivers water. 80% agricultural land depends on this water. The livelihood of millions of people, water supply network of cities and hydro power production rests on this system. So when India indicated the postponement of the Indus Water Agreement, there was a panic and resentment in Pakistan’s political and military leadership.