Despite the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) being in abeyance, India has alerted Pakistan about a potential flood in the Tawi River. The alert was conveyed through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Sunday, August 24. This is a noteworthy communication between the two nations amidst strained relations.
The Tawi River is a tributary that merges into the Chenab, flowing downstream into the Gujrat and Sialkot districts of Pakistan. The Indian High Commission shared the alert at 10:00 AM on August 24. Following the alert from India, Pakistani authorities issued warnings for vulnerable areas. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab activated monitoring systems and coordinated early response measures.
This interaction marks the first major contact since the conflict between India and Pakistan in May. Tensions escalated after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in April, resulting in India launching Operation Sindoor. In response to the attack, India took punitive measures, including placing the IWT in "abeyance".
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the distribution and use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. The treaty allocates the three eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — to India, while Pakistan has rights to the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. Despite surviving multiple conflicts, the treaty was put in abeyance by India following the April attack, citing Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism.
The current alert from India is viewed as a goodwill gesture amid strained bilateral ties. Previously, India's early warnings about rising waters in the rivers helped Pakistan issue timely evacuation alerts. While India insists that the suspension only affects data-sharing obligations, Pakistan has expressed concerns that any attempts to block or divert its allocated waters would be considered an "act of war".
Pakistan is currently battling devastating monsoon rains, flash floods, and landslides that have resulted in numerous casualties since late June. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued warnings of heavy rains across most parts of Pakistan until August 30.
Amidst these tensions, Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana has directed officials to monitor water levels across major river systems, including the Jhelum, Ravi, and Tawi rivers. Authorities have issued advisories for people to stay away from water bodies and landslide-prone areas, with forecasts predicting more rainfall and possible cloudbursts.
