Rising water levels along the Jhelum River in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir have caused concern for thousands of residents living downstream.
With India releasing more water than usual in to the river and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty cutting off vital flood data, locals face growing uncertainty and increased risk.
Along the riverbank, 72-year-old Rafiq Hussain and his family of six have been watching floodwaters creep within meters of their home.
"When India released the water, the river rose by eight to ten feet. There's a lot of fear and uncertainty, especially after hearing reports that more water could be released without any warning," he said.
Hussain, a farmer and father of four, said they received no prior notification of the water release. He estimates that over ten thousand people residing in about one thousand homes along the riverbank are directly exposed to the flood risk.
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, once a rare symbol of cooperation, is now in question. India claims sovereignty over water use, while Pakistan warns of weaponization of a shared resource.
"Well there are bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan, but this Indus Waters Treaty is trilateral. It's not between only India and Pakistan, but the World Bank is there. And as far as the articles of that agreement is concerned, that no one, either India or Pakistan, can walk away from this. They have to agree mutually if they want to scrap this agreement,” said Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, Former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity in the western portion of the larger, disputed Kashmir region.
For families like Hussain's, this is no longer just about diplomacy — it's about survival.
"I cross the river to fish and sell it locally, just enough to get by. Last week, I set my nets, but two days later, a sudden ten-foot surge of water hit. By the time I returned, the nets were gone. I suffered heavy losses,” said Hameed Hussain, Rafiq's son.
Tensions between India and Pakistan in Kashmir have increased since an attack last week on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed at least 26 people, mostly Indian visitors to the region. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the attack, a charge which Pakistan vigorously denies.
Rising Jhelum River threatens people in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance with higher standards and more concrete measures.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing.
Xi urged efforts to confine power to an institutional cage in a more well-conceived and effective manner, and press ahead with the anti-corruption fight with a clearer understanding and stronger resolve, thus providing a strong guarantee for achieving the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
Xi pointed out that in 2025, the CPC Central Committee had intensified efforts to improve Party conduct, uphold integrity and combat corruption, achieving notable results. Xi said efforts were made to maintain a tough stance against corruption and eradicate the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption.
Xi emphasized that implementing the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee is a fundamental requirement for upholding its authority and its centralized, unified leadership.
Party organizations at all levels and Party members and officials should implement the decisions and plans of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee with concrete actions, he said.
Xi noted that confining power to an institutional cage is an important task in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
He stressed that all are equal before the law and regulations, that compliance with them admits no privilege, and that enforcement of the law and regulations allows no exception.
Xi underscored that the fight against corruption is a major struggle that the Party cannot afford to lose, and must never lose.
He said that the current anti-corruption situation remains grave and complex, and that the task of eliminating the soil and conditions breeding corruption remains arduous. Xi added that it is essential to maintain a firm stance to leave corrupt officials with no place to hide.
Stressing the need to stay attuned to new trends and features of corruption, Xi urged efforts to innovate methods and approaches, promptly detect and accurately identify corrupt practices, and effectively address all forms of corruption, so as to continuously enhance the penetrating power of anti-corruption efforts.
He also urged strengthening coordination among all forms of oversight to advance integrated governance through whole-process collaboration, and called for sustained efforts to forge a loyal, upright and responsible disciplinary inspection and supervision force that dares to and is good at fighting against corruption.
Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI, presided over the meeting. On Monday afternoon, on behalf of the standing committee of the CCDI, Li also delivered a work report.
Xi urges advancing Party self-governance with higher standards, more concrete measures
