Amid India-Pak. tension, Air Force chief meets PM, Pg1

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, top Indian security officials including the Air Force Chief, Navy Chief, and others briefed Prime Minister Modi on retaliatory options.

• India has reportedly initiated control of water flow from the Baglihar and Kishanganga dams — actions tied to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

• Pakistan responded by banning Indian-flagged ships and halting trade of Indian goods at its ports.

Strategic Consultations

• Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh met the PM amid rising tensions and cross-border ceasefire violations.

• This follows the PM’s earlier statement granting the military “complete operational freedom”.

• The urgency is heightened by recent infiltration and small arms fire across the LoC.

Indus Waters Treaty & Water Leverage

• India is said to be regulating flow from:

• Baglihar Dam on Chenab

• Kishanganga Dam on Jhelum

• However, due to treaty constraints, India cannot unilaterally store or block water beyond a certain limit.

• These measures are seen as symbolic but strategic signalling of India’s intent.

Pakistan’s Economic Counteraction

• Pakistan imposed a ban on Indian-flagged ships and trade at its ports — a retaliatory move to India’s previous trade restrictions.

• Also reflects the fragility of bilateral ties during high-tension security events.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Indus Waters Treaty (1960): A World Bank-brokered treaty allocating river waters; India controls the eastern rivers, Pakistan the western rivers.

• Hydropower Infrastructure: Baglihar and Kishanganga dams are run-of-the-river projects but with limited water storage for power and flood control.

Significance:

• The escalation shows how water resources are increasingly used as geopolitical tools.

• Reflects a broader Indian shift toward assertive diplomacy and calibrated pressure in response to cross-border terrorism.

• May impact regional trade, border security, and India’s diplomatic outreach in West Asia and the global south.

Mains Mock Question:

"Discuss the strategic and diplomatic dimensions of the Indus Waters Treaty in the context of Indo-Pak tensions. Should India reconsider its approach towards water sharing as a lever of foreign policy?"