Pakistan has expressed concern after India released a substantial volume of water into the Chenab River without prior notification, prompting fears of mismanagement and potential harm to the agricultural sector.
According to official sources, India discharged water from its dams, causing the Chenab’s flow to rise to 58,300 cusecs. The sources alleged that the sudden release may be intended to disrupt Pakistan’s wheat crop at a critical stage.
Experts warned that India could subsequently refill its dams, reducing the river flow to near zero — a fluctuation that could further damage crop cycles in Pakistan. Some water specialists described the move as a form of “water terrorism,” citing its potential to harm key agricultural outputs, particularly wheat.
The incident comes months after Punjab suffered severe flooding in late August and September 2025. Heavy monsoon rains in India, coupled with large water releases into shared rivers — including the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej — triggered widespread inundation, mass evacuations, extensive crop losses and significant challenges for rescue and relief work.
Officials have urged close monitoring of the situation and stressed the need for timely coordination under existing water-sharing mechanisms.
