Pakistan accuses India of disrupting river flows

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Pakistan has said any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water into the country would be considered an “act of war”.

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Dec 19 said it had detected “abrupt variations” of water flows on a river crucial to its farmers, accusing neighbouring India of releasing water without warning in defiance of a major treaty that New Delhi suspended in 2025.

India in April announced it was suspending the Indus Water Treaty in the lead up to armed conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours and following a deadly militant attack in India-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, which denied involvement.

Pakistan has said any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water into the country would be considered an “act of war”.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar told foreign diplomats on Dec 19 that Pakistan’s water treaty commissioner had written a letter to his Indian counterpart over “unusual, abrupt variations” observed in the flow of the Chenab river from Dec 7 to 15, similar to changes detected in April and May.

“These variations in water flows are of extreme concern for Pakistan, as they point to unilateral release of water by India,” he said, according to a ministry statement.

India’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“India has released this water without any prior notifiation... as required under the Treaty,” Mr Dar added, saying it represented a “weaponisation of water”.

“India’s manipulation of water, at a critical time of our agriculture cycle, directly threatens the lives and livelihoods, as