ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As raging currents sweep through northern India and push downstream into Pakistan, concerns are mounting over India’s ambiguous and limited flood warnings that have left Pakistani authorities scrambling to protect vulnerable communities.
Traditionally, under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), both nations maintained a steady flow of detailed data — including precise discharge levels, timings, and flood projections — to ensure preparedness during the monsoon season. This year, however, the situation has taken a sharp turn.
Since India declared the treaty “in abeyance” earlier this year following the Pahalgam attack, the flow of critical information through the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) has slowed to a trickle. The recent alerts, relayed through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad rather than the PIC, lacked vital details, offering only broad warnings of “high flood levels” in rivers such as the Ravi, Tawi, and Sutlej.
Flood experts have voiced strong criticism of the move. Former Federal Flood Commissioner Ahmed Kamal noted that the alerts are “vague and incomplete, giving no discharge figures or timelines,” leaving authorities with little to act upon. Without specific data, timely evacuations and mitigation efforts become a dangerous guessing game.
On the ground, the impact of this communication gap is devastating. Districts like Narowal and Kasur have witnessed mass displacements, damaged crops, and widespread destruction of property. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the approach, accusing India of “weaponising water” and deliberately releasing stored flows without adequate notice, worsening the disaster in downstream communities.
Diplomatic voices echo the same concern. Veteran diplomat Abdul Basit pointed out that bypassing the treaty’s formal mechanisms while pushing generic alerts serves a dual purpose — signaling political defiance at home while projecting a humanitarian facade internationally.
Despite the strained relations, Pakistan continues to honor its obligations under the treaty, issuing detailed alerts through the office of the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters to ensure timely dissemination of flood updates to relevant districts and agencies.
Experts warn that at a time when climate change is intensifying glacial melts and erratic monsoon patterns, cooperation and data transparency are more critical than ever. “Incomplete warnings aren’t just political posturing,” a senior disaster management official commented. “They put millions of lives, livelihoods, and entire communities at grave risk.”
The situation underscores the urgent need for renewed dialogue and a return to coordinated data sharing, as the absence of reliable information threatens to turn seasonal flooding into humanitarian crises year after year.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.