India Issues Flood Warning to Pakistan Outside Indus Waters Treaty Framework

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday confirmed that India issued a flood warning on August 24, but did so through diplomatic channels rather than the official Indus Waters Commission, raising serious concerns over treaty violations.

According to the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson, while India alerted Pakistani authorities about possible flooding in rivers following water releases, it bypassed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) mechanism — a move termed as a “serious violation of international law.”

“India is obligated to fully comply with all provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty,” the FO stated, warning that unilateral actions such as suspending treaty cooperation could have far-reaching consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.

Read more: India Alerts Pakistan of Floods, First Contact Since May Conflict

The Ministry of Water Resources confirmed that India’s High Commission in Islamabad informed Pakistan about potential flood situations. Following the alert, an advisory was issued to 27 ministries and departments, instructing them to take emergency preparedness measures, especially in light of potential severe flooding in the Sutlej River.

However, diplomatic sources revealed that this contact was made at a government-to-government level, rather than through the formal IWT mechanism. The FO has reportedly sent a letter of thanks to the Indian government but maintained that bypassing the treaty framework remains a point of serious concern.

Officials said the flood warning data has been shared with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure timely action and preparedness.

The situation comes amid broader tensions, as this is the first such official communication since the recent escalation in regional hostilities.