Pakistan has issued a flood alert in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) after alleging that India released water into the Jhelum River without prior notice. The surge in water levels near Muzaffarabad has prompted local authorities to declare a water emergency in Hattian Bala, approximately 40 km away, and issue warnings to residents living along the riverbanks. The sudden rise in water levels has caused panic among the local population. Pakistan has condemned the action, calling it a violation of international water agreements.
These allegations come in the wake of India's decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 fatalities, including 25 Indians and one Nepali national. The Indian government has stated that the suspension will remain in effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. In response, Pakistan has vowed to take appropriate countermeasures, including the possibility of halting water flows to India.
The situation has escalated tensions between the two countries, with Pakistan warning of dire consequences if India continues to withhold water. The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the waters of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. The treaty has been a cornerstone of bilateral relations, and its suspension marks a significant shift in the dynamics between the two nations.
