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Pakistan Protests to India Over Sharp Chenab River Flow Drops, Cites Treaty Violations
Pakistan formally raised concerns with India regarding erratic Chenab River flows after monitoring detected a drastic drop earlier this month, the Ministry of Water Resources announced Friday.
Punjab Irrigation Department data, tracked at Marala (excluding Jamu and Manawar Tawi) and forwarded to the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters, showed volatility followed by stabilization.
The update followed Thursday’s demand for explanations on abrupt Chenab variations since December 7, with Pakistan urging global attention to India’s “water weaponization” and treaty breaches.
Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi highlighted the past week’s irregularities. Ministry records from December 10-16 revealed unprecedented lows, dipping to 870 cusecs—far below the 10-year historical minimum of 4,018-4,406 cusecs.
Satellite images from December 8 and 13 indicated Baglihar reservoir was drained then refilled, expanding then contracting its surface area. The ministry stressed India cannot deplete “dead storage” in run-of-river plants on western rivers per the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Pakistan’s Commissioner contacted India’s counterpart for data and explanations under treaty protocols.
Flows rebounded from December 17, hitting 6,399 cusecs by 7am—back in historical norms. December 19 readings (4,505 and 6,494 cusecs) aligned with or exceeded 10-year averages. Monitoring continues, with only official Commissioner data deemed valid.
‘India’s Water Tactics Endanger Food Security’
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told diplomats that India’s April 2025 IWT suspension post-Pahalgam attack jeopardizes Pakistan’s food and economic stability, risking a humanitarian crisis.
Dar decried the move as water weaponization, warning: “India’s manipulations during our key farming season threaten citizens’ lives, livelihoods, food, and economy.” He called the 1960 World Bank-brokered IWT a South Asia peace pillar, noting India’s data-sharing halt and joint mechanism disruption.
The treaty allocates eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi) to India and most western flows (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, with no unilateral suspension clause or clear exit.
Post-April’s 26 deaths in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir—which India blamed on Pakistan (denied)—New Delhi paused the pact.
