Tensions are rising between India and Pakistan after a deadly attack in Kashmir. In a new development, Pakistan has accused India of almost completely cutting off the flow of water through the Chenab River, which normally flows into Pakistan.
According to Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA), the water flow from India has dropped by about 90% since Sunday morning. Muhammad Khalid Idrees Rana, the IRSA spokesperson, said this sudden drop is very unusual. He explained that while India sometimes holds water temporarily to generate electricity, it usually releases it within a few hours. This time, the water has not been released as expected.
“If this continues, Pakistan may have to reduce water supply to farms by 20%,” Rana warned, adding that it could harm agriculture in the country. He also mentioned that India doesn’t have enough storage to hold back this much water for long, so it may release it later.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that India has started clearing silt from two dams in the Kashmir valley. This move comes after India reportedly suspended the water-sharing treaty with Pakistan.
The Chenab River is part of the Indus Water Treaty signed between the two countries in 1960. This agreement was meant to ensure fair use of water from rivers that flow between India and Pakistan. Cutting off water could worsen already high tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
For now, Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and urging India to act responsibly.
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