• India has started work on two hydroelectric projects in Kashmir after suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
• The suspension follows a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, with claims of Pakistani involvement.
• India has initiated a "reservoir flushing" process at Salal and Baglihar dams, which may affect water supply to Pakistan.
• Pakistan has threatened legal actions and claims that any diversion of water will be considered an act of war.
• The Modi government seeks to expedite several hydro projects, altering the previous constraints established by the treaty.

India has begun work to boost reservoir holding capacity at two hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The treaty, in place since 1960, ensured water supply to 80% of Pakistani agricultural lands and was suspended after a terrorist incident in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities, with New Delhi alleging involvement by Pakistani nationals, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The work includes a "reservoir flushing" operation aimed at sediment removal, which began on May 1 and has been described as the first time such maintenance has taken place. This activity is expected to improve hydroelectric power generation while possibly indicating future supply constraints for waters traditionally shared with Pakistan, as noted by India Times and TRT Global.

India's state-run hydropower company, NHPC Ltd, is conducting the flushing process at the Salal and Baglihar dams without prior notification to Islamabad, a significant move since these actions were previously restricted by the treaty. The operational changes are expected to free the dams from restrictions that had limited their effectiveness in power generation, as reported by Dawn and Reuters.

Despite immediate impacts on Pakistan's water supply being limited, concerns have been raised over future risks if similar projects proceed. "Flushing is not a common thing because it leads to a lot of water wastage," remarked a source, highlighting the need for notification to downstream countries, which could be affected by altered water flows, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

In response to these developments, Pakistan has threatened international legal action and maintains that any diversion or cessation of water from its rivers would be viewed as an act of war, per Dawn and Reuters. As the tensions escalate, India’s government has expressed intentions to expedite ongoing hydroelectric projects amidst concerns that the treaty was no longer serving its intended purpose.