ISLAMABAD: Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India has officially alerted Pakistan about a potential major flood risk, according to reports from a private news channel citing government sources.
Officials stated that New Delhi contacted Islamabad regarding flood-related developments, highlighting the possibility of severe flooding in the Tawi River near Jammu. The communication was made through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on the morning of August 24 at 10:00 AM, providing advance warning to Pakistani authorities despite the earlier suspension of the treaty.
It is significant to note that India had announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty earlier this year in April. Following this decision, India ordered all Pakistani nationals in the country to leave within 48 hours and announced the closure of the Attari and Wagah border crossings. Pakistani citizens were also barred from traveling to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme.
The flood alert represents an unusual move given the treaty’s suspension, emphasizing the humanitarian importance of early warning. Separately, Pakistan had approached the Court of Arbitration in 2016 to challenge India’s construction of water reservoirs on the western rivers, while India requested the court to appoint a neutral expert for oversight.
The development underscores the continuing relevance of the Indus Waters Treaty framework in facilitating communication on water-related emergencies, even amid heightened political tensions between the two countries.
