Pakistan has confirmed receiving a flood warning from India on August 24, but noted that the alert was conveyed via diplomatic channels rather than through the official mechanism established under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The development has raised eyebrows in Islamabad, with officials warning that such deviations could undermine regional peace and violate international agreements.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson emphasized that India is legally obligated to follow all clauses of the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs water-sharing rights between the two nations. The spokesperson criticized India’s recent unilateral statement to suspend parts of the treaty, calling it a serious breach of international law.
The FO warned that bypassing the treaty’s mechanisms for information sharing—particularly in emergency situations such as flooding—could have dangerous consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.
India Issues First Post-War Alert, Raising Treaty Concerns
This marks the first direct contact from India since recent cross-border tensions, as per the Ministry of Water Resources. The ministry confirmed that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad alerted Pakistani authorities about potential flooding, especially in the Sutlej River, due to upstream water releases in India.
In response, the Ministry of Water Resources issued emergency advisories to 27 government departments, urging immediate precautionary measures. The alert data has also been shared with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to prepare for any critical situation.
While diplomatic sources confirmed that Pakistan has thanked India through an official letter for sharing the warning, officials remain concerned about the non-use of the Indus Waters Commission, the joint body specifically designed to manage such notifications under the treaty.
“This kind of contact outside the treaty framework is irregular and a matter of concern,” said an FO official, stressing the importance of upholding treaty protocols to ensure transparency, trust, and cooperation in managing transboundary water issues.
