Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Monday that India had shared flood warnings across the border but bypassed the Indus Waters Commission, in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The alerts, delivered through diplomatic channels, came as Punjab remained on high alert with thousands evacuated along the Sutlej River after water levels at Ganda Singh Wala surged to 129,866 cusecs, reaching high flood stage.
The latest warning, issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Sunday, notified Pakistan of a dangerous rise in Jammu’s Tawi River, which flows into the Chenab. The move comes months after New Delhi announced in April that it was holding the IWT in abeyance following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 people. India blamed Islamabad for the incident, while Pakistan rejected the allegation and declared any attempt to suspend its water share under the treaty an “act of war.”
Foreign Office spokesperson Shahfqat Ali Khan said India’s August 24 warning was routed through diplomats instead of the Indus Waters Commission as required by treaty provisions. “We reaffirm that India is obligated to fully comply with all provisions of the treaty. India’s unilateral declaration to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a serious violation of international law and could have significant negative consequences for peace and stability in South Asia,” Khan said.
Under Article IV, paragraph 8 of the IWT, both parties are required to share advance information on extraordinary water discharges and flood flows that could affect the other side. Pakistan says India’s failure to communicate through the Commission undermines the treaty’s framework for cooperation and trust.
An Indian government source told Reuters that the flood alert was issued “on humanitarian grounds” rather than under treaty obligations, citing heavy rains in occupied Kashmir. The source declined to be named, and India’s foreign ministry has yet to respond publicly.