India sent another flood alert to Pakistan within 24 hours despite increasing tensions – marking an extraordinary diplomatic gesture following recent hostilities.
2 Alerts in as Many Days
On Monday morning, India’s High Commission in Islamabad issued another warning pertaining to flooding of the Sutlej River just hours after alerting Pakistani authorities of rising waters in Tawi River (which feeds into Sutlej upon entering Pakistan), signalling mounting concern over potential flooding caused by heavy rainfall and dam releases in Jammu region. News24/Reuters +11/8/18 and The News International/21/8/18 both released similar updates expressing similar alarm over potential flood damage due to heavy rainfall or dam releases in Jammu region. News24/Reuters +11 and The News International both issued warnings related to rising Tawi/Sullej River levels due to heavy rainfall or dam releases and dam releases due to heavy rainfall/dam releases combined with rising Tawi/Sullej confluence with both rivers eventually flowing into Pakistan before joining it and flowing directly into India via Pakistani territory and increasing concerns regarding potential flooding due to heavy rainfall or dam releases in Jammu region. Hence these alerts came shortly thereafter in which both rivers fed into each other with their accompanying warnings coming soon after each other about rising waters at their border crossing points along their shared borders before alerted Pakistan authorities about rising waters entering Pakistan via border points which feed into it’s border point–both warnings signaled Pakistan- which eventually fed into Sutlej in Pakistan before entering Jammu before entering Pakistan before flowing south, before both river rising again once entering Pakistan via border checkpoints or dam releases in Jammu region; both warnings were followed up on 13 by followed up alertes within hours from both warnings being issued 24 by 7/11 and news 24/7/11 from 9 ama similar warning of increasing potential flooding risks caused by rising Taw River Taw before entering it later fed to Pakistan which feed into it- then later entering Pakistan which related warning about Taw river flows to Taw ; news 24 11 before then fed onto each river before entering Pakistan when Pakistan immediately from another warning at the 9 then stopped to which fed into it via Pakistan before feeding through other than planned after initial alertes followed up until after 11/18 so far on 11/12 being dropped with 11 News International +11.
Warning of Diplomatic Channels, Not Treaty Mechanisms
India effectively sidestepped formal flood-notification procedures established under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), instead providing alerts through diplomatic channels on “humanitarian grounds.” Typically, alerts must go through the Indus Waters Commission rather than embassies. As reported by Wikipedia and Reuters.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office strongly opposed this action, noting that such communication violated treaty protocols and warned of possible regional instability should such unilateral suspension occur. Reuters + 9
Arab News + 9 The Times of India each published articles critical of Pakistan.
Context: Strained Relations and Monsoon Chaos
Alerts have been issued following an exceptionally destructive monsoon season across both nations, which has claimed at least 60 lives due to flash floods in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region while Pakistan has recorded nearly 400 fatalities so far. Reuters |
Increased urgency stems from water-release procedures and rising levels in river systems, compounding flood risks further downstream and necessitating coordination without formal mechanisms if possible. Reuters
Significance of Gesture
Politics aside, India’s decision to issue flood alerts marks an act of good will and humanitarian gesture that transcends politics. It underscores a geophysical reality: rivers don’t recognize borders or national boundaries and flood prevention must be prioritized on both sides of the border. Its Geo News/Reuters/News24 ==> Next Up…
Flood Developments in Pakistan: Will Pakistan react based on India’s alerts or conduct independent measurements to evaluate possible actions?
Diplomatic Repercussions or Follow-Up: With tension still present, will this humanitarian outreach result in modest thawing or lead to charges of treaty violation?
Regional Ripple Effects: Heavy rains have persisted through early September, raising flood risks in other basin regions.
Future Emergency Protocols: This episode may spark discussions regarding more resilient, cross-border early warning systems despite treaty suspensions.