India cuts off water flow to Pak from crucial dam

Another decisive blow dealt to Islamabad

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria and Zia Haq

India has cut off water flow to Pakistan from the Baglihar dam on the Chenab river and is also preparing to taper down runoffs from the Kishanganga project on the Jhelum, following through on its decisions not to allow a "single drop" from going to the neighbouring country from the Indus rivers.

After a week of discussions and hydrological testing, India began de-silting operations in the Baglihar dam and lowered sluice gates, reducing downstream flow to Pakistan by up to 90%, while similar operations have been planned for the Kishanganga dam, an official from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation said on Sunday.

"We have closed the gates of the Baglihar hydel power project. We had done de-silting of the reservoir and it has to be refilled. The process started on Saturday," said a second official, who declined to be named.

India's actions came within hours of Pakistan's testing its surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Saturday, including banning of the docking of ships bearing the Pakistani flag in all ports of the country.