- India reportedly alerted Pakistan about potential major flooding in the Tawi River.
- This information was conveyed via the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
- The Indus Waters Treaty channel for such data sharing is currently in abeyance.
GG News Bureau
Islamabad, 25th Aug: In a rare move, India has reportedly extended a goodwill gesture to Pakistan amidst heightened diplomatic tensions, by alerting Islamabad about a potential major flood in the Tawi River in Jammu. The information was forwarded through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, as the usual channel under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains suspended.
The IWT, which has governed water sharing between the two nations for decades, was put “in abeyance” by India following a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Terrorists had targeted tourists, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen. Following the attack, India also stopped sharing water level data in the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers with Pakistan. Normally, India’s early flood warnings in the monsoon season are crucial for Pakistan to issue timely evacuation notices to residents in low-lying areas.
While there has been no official confirmation from either India or Pakistan on this development, Pakistani media outlets, citing official sources, claim that the alert was conveyed on Sunday. If the reports are true, this would mark the first time New Delhi has used its diplomatic mission for such a purpose. The move is seen as a goodwill gesture amid worsening bilateral ties following a brief military conflict in May.
Across the border, the monsoon season continues to cause widespread devastation, with over 788 lives lost in Pakistan since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. In India, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have also issued advisories, with the Jal Shakti Minister directing officials to monitor water levels in all major river systems, including the Jhelum, Ravi, and Tawi, and their tributaries.
