Overflowing Jhelum panics PoK residents, seen as Pahalgam aftereffect

By Nava Thakuria*

Amid India’s mounting pressure on Pakistan for its patronage of terrorism in Kashmir over decades, several Pakistani media outlets have attributed the upsurge in the Jhelum River—flowing from Jammu & Kashmir into Pakistan—as by New Delhi. Mainstream newspapers and news channels in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi reported the overflow of Jhelum as a probable consequence of India's suspension of a 65-year-old bilateral river treaty following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April 2025, in which 26 innocent Indian tourists were killed by Islamist terrorists.

India responded strongly with a diplomatic offensive, including closing the integrated Attari-Wagah border crossing, suspending visa services for Pakistani nationals, and abrogating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Mohammed Ayub Khan. India’s Foreign Ministry announced the treaty’s suspension would remain until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably renounced its support for cross-border terrorism. Islamabad, in turn, vowed retaliatory measures. The National Investigation Agency has since taken charge of probing the Pahalgam attack.

On 27 April, The Express Tribune, a popular Pakistani newspaper, reported unexpected flooding in the Jhelum River in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “The sudden release of water triggered a high-level flood, causing widespread panic among local communities overnight,” the report claimed, adding that the Muzaffarabad administration declared a water emergency. Announcements from mosques warned riverside residents to adopt immediate precautions, while emergency protocols were initiated.

The News International echoed similar concerns, alleging the flood violated international laws and river agreements. Daily Times suggested that India had released water into the Jhelum without prior notification, causing a sharp rise in levels. The local administration advised residents near the riverbanks to stay away. Dunya News reported an 8-foot rise in water levels in Muzaffarabad, while Pakistan Today noted similar surges in Chakothi. Ary News claimed the water release, allegedly from the Uri hydroelectric dam, aimed to create a flood-like scenario in Pakistan.

Indian authorities remained silent on speculations regarding the flood. The water level, however, subsided the following day. Experts attributed the overflow to melting snow and heavy rain in Kashmir’s catchment areas. Some raised concerns that reservoir flushing operations at Indian hydroelectric projects might have exacerbated the flooding. They cautioned that repeating such releases during the sowing season could impact irrigation and agriculture in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Meanwhile, following the Pahalgam attack, India’s Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued an advisory urging all media outlets, especially news channels, to refrain from live coverage of defense operations or troop movements. “No real-time coverage, dissemination of visuals, or reporting based on ‘sources-based’ information concerning defense activities should be undertaken. Premature disclosure of sensitive details could inadvertently aid hostile elements,” the advisory stated, citing examples like the Kargil War and the Mumbai attacks, where unrestricted media coverage had unintended consequences.

The advisory emphasized the media's legal and moral responsibilities, urging stakeholders to exercise vigilance and uphold national security. It warned that violation of Cable Television Network Rules, specifically Rule 6(1)(p), would result in legal action. Media coverage should be restricted to official briefings by designated government representatives until the conclusion of operations.

The ministry concluded, “Media and digital platforms play a vital role in safeguarding national security. Let us ensure that collective actions do not compromise the safety and effectiveness of our forces.”

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*Senior journalist based in Guwahati

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