As Islamabad fixates on India’s latest provocations over the Indus Waters Treaty, a far more alarming – and largely ignored – crisis is silently unfolding in the Himalayan heights of Occupied Kashmir. This is no longer just about who controls the water. The more urgent question is: will there be any water left to fight over?

The glaciers that feed Pakistan’s mighty Indus River system are melting fast. And worryingly, most of these glaciers lie upstream, under Indian control. This isn’t merely an environmental concern; it is a slow-burning national emergency. If these ice reserves vanish, so will Pakistan’s ability to grow food, generate power, and support life as we know it.

Kashmir, often called the ‘Third Pole’ because of its massive glacial cover, holds nearly 18,000 glaciers – most of them in Occupied Kashmir. These frozen giants are the birthplaces of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, which keep Pakistan alive. But the numbers are grim: nearly 30 per cent of the region’s glacial mass has already been lost in the last 60 years. Scientists warn that if current trends continue, up to 70 per cent could vanish by the end of the century.

Among these critical glaciers, Kolahoi stands out. It is the largest glacier in Kashmir and the primary source of the Jhelum River – a lifeline for Azad........

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