India alerts Pakistan about upcoming flood threats
Pakistani Rangers (wearing black uniforms) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) officers lower their national flags during parade on the Pakistan's 72nd Independence Day, at the Pakistan-India joint check-post at Wagah border, near Lahore. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
India, making its first major contact with Pakistan since the ceasefire in May, has warned Pakistan of future floods. According to the Foreign Office, “India communicated flood warnings through diplomatic channels”.
The FO in their statement on Monday said that India decided to communicate their warning through diplomatic channels rather than the Indus Waters Commission as required under the Indus Waters Treaty.
This warning had prompted the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab to issue a flood warning, directing district administrations to activate monitoring and early warning systems.
In May, an attack that led to the death of 26 people in Pahalgam, led to souring of relations between the two states. India baselessly accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack and as a result suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. Even though the Treaty does not allow any provision for suspension, India declared that it will “keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism”.
Pakistan's stance has been to remind India that no such provision is provided in the Treaty for any party to unilaterally suspend it. Pakistan had taken this matter to the Hague court and appealed. Pakistan received a major victory as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in June issued a Supplemental Award in the IWT case, in favour of Pakistan.
Pakistan, subsequently called on India to uphold the Indus Waters Treaty, and to faithfully honour its treaty obligations.
This warning comes after Pakistan has witnessed one of its deadliest monsoon rains, with a death toll of 800.