India’s action to open the gates of two large dams in Jammu and Kashmir has sharply escalated tensions with Pakistan. The action not only aggravates pre-existing geopolitical tension but also reopens the long-standing dispute over the future of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). On Saturday, India opened the gates of the Baglihar Dam in Ramban District, and on Sunday, the gates of the Salal Dam in Reasi were opened.
The resulting increase in the water levels of the Chenab River has caused widespread alarm in Pakistan, causing fears of possible flooding and raising serious questions regarding the management and control of common water resources between the two countries.
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir | Latest visuals from Reasi’s Salal Dam, built on the Chenab River; several gates of the dam are seen open.
(Visuals shot at 6:30 am) pic.twitter.com/48taKYUYCw
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
Timing of the Dam Gate Openings
The timing of such moves is particularly crucial. The move follows a recent India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement. Yet neither of the two nations has discussed the IWT during their negotiations. India’s opening of the treaty came after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
Heavy rain in the region led to the increasing water levels, and the authorities then opened the gates to control the flow. The Baglihar gates were left open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday, for instance, and similarly at Salal on Sunday.
Indus Waters Treaty Under Scrutiny
IWT has regulated water sharing between Pakistan and India since more than 60 years. In accordance with the treaty, the waters of the eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi belong to India, while Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus belong to Pakistan. But India’s stoppage of the treaty increased concerns in Pakistan about water supply through these western rivers.
Besides, Farooq Abdullah, President of the National Conference, has been a critic of the IWT for a long time. He has always demanded a review of the treaty, and he did so again after India suspended it. This is not a new position, in 2011, former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also demanded compensation for the losses incurred by Jammu and Kashmir because of the provisions of the treaty.
Political and Economic Impact on J&K
Suspension of the IWT has deep political and economic consequences for Jammu and Kashmir. Regional leaders have complained about the adverse effects of the treaty on the water resources of the region. Interestingly, in March 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council passed a resolution asking the central government to reconsider the treaty. The increasing frustration of regional leaders is an indication of the economic and environmental problems caused by the terms of the treaty for the region.
The Baglihar and Salal dam gate opening is more than merely a water management problem. It is a symptom of a greater geopolitical battle over shared water resources between Pakistan and India. Under the cloud of uncertainty about the fate of the IWT, both nations need to approach this problem with care. In order to prevent further escalation, the resolution of this conflict will take both technical know-how as well as political resolve from both parties.
