Opt Sindoor Phase-2: India Hits Pakistan With Rivers, Not Rockets
Nidhi | Jun 11, 2025, 16:25 IST
Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 14 soldiers, India has quietly launched Phase-2 of Operation Sindoor — not with missiles, but with water. By fast-tracking the Sawalkot hydroelectric project on the Chenab River, India is asserting control over key rivers previously bound by the Indus Waters Treaty. This move marks a major shift in how India is confronting cross-border terrorism — with long-term, strategic pressure that could transform regional geopolitics and put Pakistan on the back foot.
On April 22, 2025, a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam sent shockwaves across India and drew international condemnation. Twenty-six civilians, primarily Hindu tourists, were killed in a calculated act of terror reportedly carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group with known links to Pakistan-based handlers. The victims were allegedly targeted on religious grounds — forced to recite the Quran before being shot.
The tragedy was not just an attack on lives, but on the nation’s sense of security and sovereignty. In response, India has launched Phase-2 of Operation Sindoor — not with missiles or troops, but through a quiet yet powerful shift in strategy: weaponizing water.
Operation Sindoor was conceived as a multi-dimensional strategy in response to Pakistan-backed terrorism. While Phase-1 involved diplomatic pressure and military readiness, Phase-2 marks a shift to hydraulic statecraft — using water as a tool of leverage.
The central element of this phase is the expedited implementation of the Sawalkot hydroelectric project, a ₹22,700 crore infrastructure venture capable of generating 1,856 MW of electricity.
This project, previously stalled under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), is now being revived following India’s decision to freeze the treaty post-Pahalgam.
Though there has been no official military response from Islamabad, internal reports suggest deep concern. A retired Pakistani diplomat, speaking off record, described the development as a “new front in the conflict — one we are unprepared for.”
The fear is not of immediate water shortages, but of long-term vulnerability. India’s control over river flow during crucial agricultural seasons could severely impact Pakistan’s food and water security. And without the shield of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan’s legal recourse is limited.
By hitting where it matters — water — India has entered a phase of warfare that Pakistan was neither expecting nor prepared for. And in doing so, it has shown that not every war is fought with rockets. Some are won with rivers.
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The tragedy was not just an attack on lives, but on the nation’s sense of security and sovereignty. In response, India has launched Phase-2 of Operation Sindoor — not with missiles or troops, but through a quiet yet powerful shift in strategy: weaponizing water.
What Is Sindoor Phase-2?
Operation Sindoor not over yet, ‘New India’ will crush terrorism_ PM Modi (1).
( Image credit : IANS )
The central element of this phase is the expedited implementation of the Sawalkot hydroelectric project, a ₹22,700 crore infrastructure venture capable of generating 1,856 MW of electricity.
This project, previously stalled under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), is now being revived following India’s decision to freeze the treaty post-Pahalgam.
Strategic Significance of the Sawalkot Project
Indian armed forces destroy Pakistani posts, launch pads; intercept multiple Pakistani drones.
( Image credit : IANS )
- Freedom from Indus Treaty Constraints With the IWT no longer binding, India is free to undertake full-scale projects on the Chenab and other western rivers. The Sawalkot project, earlier restricted, can now move forward without violating any treaty obligations.
- Hydrological Leverage Over Pakistan The Chenab River flows into Pakistan and is crucial for its agricultural heartland. By regulating the flow through a run-of-the-river project, India can limit water availability without breaching international laws.
- Electricity and Economic Returns Besides strategic value, the project promises large-scale power generation and development benefits for Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Reasi and Udhampur districts.
- Environmental and Political Clearance In 2021, the J&K Forest Department had already cleared the environmental decks. Now, with political momentum behind it, the project is set for fast-track execution.
- National Sovereignty Over Natural Resources India’s move sends a clear message: natural resources within its territory will be used as per national interest — not dictated by outdated treaties or adversarial dependencies.
How Pakistan Is Responding
India heading to become 3rd largest economy, Pakistan on brink of collapse.
( Image credit : IANS )
The fear is not of immediate water shortages, but of long-term vulnerability. India’s control over river flow during crucial agricultural seasons could severely impact Pakistan’s food and water security. And without the shield of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan’s legal recourse is limited.
Why This Move Matters
Tharoor reflects on India's anti-terror diplomacy as PM Modi meets Op-Sindoor delegations.
( Image credit : IANS )
- Strategic deterrence without escalation India has chosen a path that avoids immediate conflict, yet applies pressure with long-term consequences.
- Rebalancing of regional water power For decades, Pakistan benefited from the IWT’s favourable terms. That advantage is now gone.
- Strengthening India's internal regions The project will bring employment, infrastructure, and power to Jammu and Kashmir — aligning national security with local development.
- Redefining the nature of modern conflict Wars are no longer only fought on battlefields. They’re shaped through energy, water, information, and supply chains. India appears to have understood this shift — and is acting accordingly.
By hitting where it matters — water — India has entered a phase of warfare that Pakistan was neither expecting nor prepared for. And in doing so, it has shown that not every war is fought with rockets. Some are won with rivers.
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