After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan not only with words but also through water. Know about it? 
Pakistan’s dams :-After the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, India has responded in a quiet but powerful way — by controlling the flow of water to Pakistan. And now, the impact is becoming very visible.
In Pakistan’s Punjab province, water shortage is worsening, and it could soon turn into a full-blown drought-like situation. According to official data seen by CNN-News18, water flow from major dams into Pakistan’s Indus basin has dropped by around 15% compared to last year. This shows how India’s firm steps to control the western rivers are now turning into a major water crisis for Pakistan.
📉 Water Flow Down, Dams Near Dead Levels
On June 5, the water released in Punjab province fell to 1.24 lakh cusecs, down from 1.44 lakh cusecs on the same day last year.
Here’s how some of Pakistan’s biggest dams are doing:
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Tarbela Dam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): Water level at 1,465 meters (Dead level: 1,402 meters)
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Chashma Dam (Punjab): Water level at 644 meters (Just above dead level of 638 meters)
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Mangla Dam (Mirpur, Jhelum River): Water level at 1,163 meters (Dead level: 1,050 meters)
Once the water level hits the “dead level”, water can no longer be released from the dam — a dangerous situation for farming, drinking water, and electricity.
🌾 Farmers in Trouble as Kharif Season Begins
This 15% fall in water flow has already led to a 21% water shortage as the Kharif farming season (June to September) starts. This means less water for crops like rice, cotton, and sugarcane, leading to a threat to both food supply and economy.
In Sialkot’s Marala station on the Chenab River, flow fell drastically from 26,645 cusecs on May 28 to just 3,064 cusecs on June 5.
A senior Pakistani official said the situation is “extremely serious”, and even if the monsoon brings some relief, a lot of damage will already be done.
🔥 Heatwave Makes Things Worse
To make matters worse, a severe heatwave warning has been issued for Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan starting from June 8. Temperatures are expected to be 5–7°C above normal, which will cause water sources to dry even faster and increase stress on dams.
🇵🇰 Pakistan Blames India, Calls It an “Act of War”
Pakistan has openly blamed India for reducing water flow in the Chenab River, saying this will create a serious shortage during the crop season. Pakistani leaders have even gone as far as calling India’s move an “act of war”, warning that “the next war could be over water.”
🇮🇳 India’s Strong Stand: “Water and Blood Can’t Flow Together”
India, on the other hand, has made its stand clear. After the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Sindhu (Indus) Water Treaty is under review, and the country is working on the principle:
“Water and blood cannot flow together.”
PM Modi also said in a recent speech in Gujarat:
“We’ve just started cleaning up our water rights. And Pakistan is already in panic.”
India has suspended parts of the Indus Water Treaty, especially those that allowed Pakistan to benefit while India was restricted in using water from its own rivers.
📜 A Look Back at the Indus Water Treaty
The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank. According to the deal:
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India got control over three eastern rivers – Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej
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Pakistan got control over three western rivers – Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum
However, India was restricted from cleaning or de-silting dams on certain rivers, especially in Jammu & Kashmir. PM Modi has now called this deal “an injustice to India”, saying that due to treaty limits, even dam gates couldn’t be opened for cleaning for 60 years — reducing water flow to just 2–3% of what it should be.
While India has not used guns or missiles in response to the terror attack, its water strategy has sent a clear and powerful message. By tightening its hold over its rightful water share, India is putting pressure on Pakistan in a way that affects the country’s core survival areas — water, farming, and daily life.
This could just be the beginning of a new chapter in India-Pakistan relations, where water becomes the new battlefield.