India Issues Flood Warning to Pakistan Amidst Strained Relations
Islamabad/New Delhi – August 25, 2025 – In a rare instance of communication, India alerted Pakistan to a potential flood in the Tawi River, despite ongoing tensions between the two nations.The warning, delivered on August 24, 2025, was communicated through diplomatic channels, bypassing the established mechanism of the Indus Waters Commission, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Shahfqat Ali Khan.
This marks the first confirmed official contact between India and Pakistan since a four-day conflict in May.Khan stated, “on August 24, 2025, India communicated flood warnings through diplomatic channels, rather than through the Indus Waters Commission as required under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).” He further emphasized India’s obligation to adhere to all provisions of the treaty.
Sources in New Delhi indicated the flood alert was shared on “humanitarian grounds.” Pakistani authorities subsequently issued warnings to residents based on the information received from India.
The communication occurs against a backdrop of heightened discord. Following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, India announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending operations under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan has condemned India’s decision to put the Treaty “in abeyance,” calling it a “serious violation of international law” with possibly destabilizing consequences for South Asia, as reported by state-run Radio Pakistan.
Prior to the official confirmation, The News reported India had contacted Pakistan to share information regarding possible flooding.The Indus Waters Treaty, facilitated by the World Bank, has been the cornerstone of water sharing between India and Pakistan for over six decades, governing the distribution and use of the Indus River and its tributaries.
The alert comes as Pakistan grapples with devastating monsoon rains, currently reporting a death toll of 800. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued warnings of continued heavy rainfall across the country untill August 30, 2025.