Largest Ever Desilting Underway; Pakistan Threatens War over Water Security

June

2026

In the aftermath of the devastating floods of 2025, Panjab has scaled up its river desilting and flood protection program. According to official data, Panjab desilted 400M CFT of sediment from 2024 until June 2026 in the largest ever such exercise conducted, and compared to virtually no recorded desilting activity before 2024. Until 2022 desilting operations were carried out under the Department of Mines and Geology without a clear distinction between mining and desilting, and without scientific studies or dedicated guidelines. Though the desilting operations in major rivers are being monitored by the judiciary and commercial desilting is banned, Panjab has explored multiple approaches to clear the legal hurdles and carry out desilting before the monsoon—including asking the National Highways Authority of India to utilize excavated mud for infrastructure projects. However, after the 1988 floods, the Water Resources Department had identified 182 flood-prone points for river desilting but work has begun at only 52 sites. Officials attribute the slow pace of work to legal battles in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the National Green Tribunal, changes in the state’s desilting policy, and resistance from residents in some villages. Nine locations have been identified as the most vulnerable ahead of the 2026 monsoon. Furthermore, the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) ambitious plan to desilt the Gobind Sagar reservoir of Bhakra Dam has hit fresh trouble after Himachal Pradesh (HP) objected to tenders issued for the project. HP contends that the BBMB failed to obtain the mandatory No Objection Certificate before initiating the process. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has raised concern over Indian projects on the Indus river system, saying such steps could affect natural river flows and create risks for regional stability, and water security. Dar has urged the UN Security Council to take notice of India's alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty. Additionally, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan could consider military action against India if it concluded that its water security was under serious threat. He said, ‘The moment we feel that our national security—and water is part of our national security—is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely’ (earlier coverage).