According to the Indian "Asia International News" on June 30, due to heavy rainfall in the region causing water levels to rise, the Salal Dam on the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Indian-administered Kashmir has already opened its floodgates, which may cause flooding in Pakistan downstream.
Indian local officials stated that opening the floodgates is to prevent more severe floods in the future and reminded locals not to approach the river recently.
Heavy rainfall caused the water level of the Chenab River to rise, and the gates of the Salal Dam were opened ANI
The red marked area is the Salal Hydropower Station in Indian-administered Kashmir
However, it is worth noting that since the "terrorist attack targeting Indians" in April and May this year in Indian-administered Kashmir and the subsequent military conflict between India and Pakistan, India has largely suspended the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty. Even though the two countries have now reached a ceasefire agreement, the future of the Indus Waters Treaty remains unclear.
It is understood that the Indus Waters Treaty was concluded in 1960 under the leadership of the World Bank, stipulating the right to use the water resources of the Indus River and its tributaries. Pakistan is the main beneficiary of the treaty, receiving about 80% of the total water flow of these rivers. Even during multiple wars and conflicts in the past, the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty has not been affected, and it is regarded as the "last line of defense" in India-Pakistan relations.
However, on April 27, Pakistan accused India of opening the floodgates on the Jhelum River upstream in Kashmir without prior notice, causing a sharp rise in water levels in many areas of Pakistan downstream, even triggering floods, and accusing it of intentionally carrying out "terrorism against the water supply system."
On May 6, India again closed all the gates of the Baglihar and Salal hydropower dams located upstream on the Chenab River, completely cutting off the water supply to Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir. It wasn't until the afternoon of August 8 that the Baglihar hydropower station in India reopened its gates, and the three gates of the Salal dam also opened successively.
It is worth noting that over the past 10 years, India has repeatedly threatened to "cut off the water supply" to Pakistan.
In 2016, after Pakistani militants attacked an Indian military base in the town of Uri in Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Modi told relevant officials, "Blood and water cannot flow together."
In 2019, after a suicide bombing in Kashmir that killed dozens of Indian security personnel, Indian government officials threatened to divert the flow of eastern rivers so that they no longer flowed to Pakistan.
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