Pakistan on Monday confirmed that India issued a flood warning on August 24, but conveyed the information through diplomatic channels rather than the Indus Waters Commission.
According to the FO spokesperson, India is bound to fully comply with all provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. The spokesperson added that India’s unilateral announcement of putting the treaty on hold is a serious violation of international law.
The Foreign Office warned that such actions by India could have negative consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.
Earlier, India had contacted Pakistan for the first time since the recent war, alerting authorities to possible flooding in Pakistani rivers, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
The ministry confirmed that the Indian High Commission informed the government about potential flood situations.
The Ministry of Water Resources warned of severe flooding in the Sutlej River following water releases from India. An advisory letter was issued to 27 ministries and departments, instructing them to take immediate precautionary measures to deal with any emergency situation.
Diplomatic sources said India’s flood warning was not conveyed through the Indus Waters Treaty mechanism but instead made at the government-to-government level. The Foreign Office has not yet issued any formal statement on the matter. Officials said the warning data has been shared with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure necessary preparations.
According to sources, the Foreign Office has also sent a letter of thanks to the Indian government. They added that if such contact is taking place outside the Indus Waters Treaty, it is a matter of concern.
