Pakistan has raised strong objections after India bypassed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by sending flood data through diplomatic channels instead of the Indus Water Commission, the official forum created under the 1960 accord.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), India’s High Commission in Islamabad shared flood information on Sunday, marking the first such exchange since New Delhi unilaterally suspended the treaty following the April Pahalgam attack.
In a letter seen by The Express Tribune, the Indian mission informed Pakistan of a “high flood” in River Tawi, Jammu, at 10 am on August 24. The FO confirmed the development but criticized the method of communication.
“India communicated flood warnings through diplomatic channels rather than through the Indus Waters Commission as required under the IWT. India is obligated to fully comply with all treaty provisions,” the FO stressed, calling New Delhi’s suspension of the treaty a “serious violation of international law” that threatens regional stability.
A senior Pakistani official suggested India was deliberately avoiding treaty references to create a “new normal” in bilateral dealings. An unnamed Indian official, however, told Reuters the data was shared purely on “humanitarian grounds” and not under treaty obligations.
Following the warning, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued alerts for Gujrat and Sialkot, warning that rising levels in River Tawi could affect Chenab’s flow. Local administrations were directed to activate emergency systems.
The IWT, signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, grants Pakistan control over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—while India controls Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, under strict conditions. Recently, the Permanent Court of Arbitration reaffirmed that India cannot unilaterally walk away from the treaty and must comply with its provisions.
Islamabad has repeatedly warned that any attempt to obstruct Pakistan’s share of water would be treated as an act of aggression.
