Islamabad (Web Desk): In a significant move marking the first formal engagement between India and Pakistan since the May ceasefire, India has issued a flood alert to Pakistan, citing potential overflow risks.
This communication arrives against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the two nations following recent events that strained diplomatic ties.
As per a statement from the Foreign Office (FO), “India communicated flood warnings through diplomatic channels.”
The notification has raised concerns in Islamabad, particularly due to India’s decision to bypass the Indus Waters Commission — the official body responsible for such matters under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Reacting to the development, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab promptly issued a flood warning. District administrations across the province have been instructed to activate their monitoring and early warning mechanisms to brace for possible flooding.
Tensions between the two countries have remained high since May, when an attack in the Pahalgam region claimed 26 lives.
India, without presenting substantiated evidence, accused Pakistan of orchestrating the incident, leading to a sharp downturn in relations. In retaliation, India announced a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, despite the agreement containing no clause that permits unilateral suspension.
New Delhi maintained that it would “keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.”
Pakistan’s official stance has consistently emphasized that the treaty does not allow either party to halt its application independently. Islamabad brought the matter before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The international tribunal issued a Supplemental Award in June, siding with Pakistan and reaffirming the treaty’s binding nature.
Following the ruling, Pakistan urged India to recommit to the treaty and fulfil its legal responsibilities under the framework.
The renewed warning from India now comes at a critical time, as Pakistan continues to reel from some of the deadliest monsoon rains in recent history, which have resulted in over 800 fatalities.
This development adds yet another layer to the already complex dynamic between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, highlighting both the challenges and the necessity of sustained, structured communication on transboundary water issues.