ISLAMABAD: On Friday, Pakistan voiced serious concerns regarding the inadequacy of flood-related information shared by India, noting that the data provided through diplomatic channels this year was less comprehensive than in previous years.
According to the terms of the treaty, India is obligated to issue timely alerts for flooding on three transboundary rivers that flow into Pakistan. However, during a weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan highlighted that India failed to utilize the designated Indus Water Commissioner’s channel to communicate critical flood data. He called on India to fully adhere to all provisions stipulated in the treaty.
The ongoing monsoon season has brought about devastating floods for the second time in three years, especially impacting Pakistan’s northern and central regions, including Punjab. Entire villages have been submerged, farmland destroyed, and millions displaced, with hundreds losing their lives. Since late June, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports a death toll of 905. Over 1,400 villages in Punjab have been inundated, prompting mass evacuations of more than a million residents. As floodwaters continue to threaten Sindh, authorities are preparing for what is being described as a potential “super flood” scenario.
It is also noteworthy that India suspended its participation in the IWT following the killing of 26 civilians in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir—a move India attributes to Islamabad. Pakistan has denied these allegations, which spurred intense border clashes and hostilities between the two nations, culminating in a ceasefire last week. In June, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a Supplemental Award affirming that India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty was without legal effect. The judgment, delivered unanimously on June 27, 2025, clarified that India’s decision to put the treaty in abeyance did not affect the Court’s authority to resolve disputes under the agreement.
Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty is a pivotal water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, mediated by the World Bank and signed in September 1960. The treaty divides the Indus River basin, allocating water rights based on the rivers’ tributaries. India retains rights to use water from the eastern riversSutlej, Beas, and Ravi—while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Importantly, the treaty contains clear provisions preventing either country from unilaterally suspending or terminating the agreement. Dispute resolution mechanisms are in place to address disagreements, emphasizing the treaty’s role in ensuring equitable water sharing despite ongoing tensions between the two nations.
