Pakistan has accused India of deliberately altering the flow of water in the Chenab River for nearly a week without providing any advance notice, a move that Islamabad claims has serious implications. The Pakistani government has lodged a formal protest over the issue, with officials describing the situation as a form of “water war.” According to Pakistan, sudden and unannounced changes in the flow of Indus basin rivers pose a direct threat to the country’s agricultural sector and the livelihoods of millions who depend on these waters. Islamabad has urged New Delhi to refrain from what it terms “unilateral actions” that could destabilise water-sharing arrangements.
The long-standing Indus water dispute between the two neighbours has once again come to the forefront, following Pakistan’s allegations that India modified the flow of the Chenab River without prior communication. Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated on Thursday that the “abrupt variation” in river flows could disrupt agricultural cycles and jeopardise food security, economic stability, and the overall livelihood of its population. These concerns were reported by the Karachi-based daily Dawn, which cited officials emphasising the gravity of the situation.
Earlier, in September, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had voiced strong opposition to India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance while addressing the United Nations General Debate. During his speech, Sharif asserted that Pakistan would firmly protect what he described as the inseparable rights of its people over shared water resources. He warned that any breach of the treaty would be viewed by Pakistan as an act of war, underscoring the seriousness with which Islamabad views the issue.
India, however, has maintained that its actions were taken under its policy stance that “water and blood can’t flow together.” Following the Pahalgam attack in April, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistani terrorists, India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Chenab River, which is at the centre of the current dispute, forms a key part of the Indus River System governed by the treaty.
On Thursday, Pakistani officials confirmed that they had formally taken up the matter with Indian authorities after observing unusual changes in the Chenab’s flow over the previous week. Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the developments had caused “extreme concern and seriousness” within Pakistan. Multiple Pakistani media outlets echoed these claims, suggesting that India had released water into the river without issuing prior notification.
Geo TV, invoking Prime Minister Sharif’s earlier remarks, described the situation as a renewed “water war” in its headline, accusing India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty by manipulating Chenab water flows. Andrabi was quoted by Dawn as saying that Pakistan views these changes with deep concern, as they point to unilateral water releases by India without adherence to agreed procedures.
He further explained that Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner had formally written to his Indian counterpart seeking clarification, in line with mechanisms outlined in the treaty. Andrabi stressed that any manipulation of river flows, particularly during a sensitive phase of the agricultural calendar, directly threatens the lives, livelihoods, and economic security of Pakistani citizens.
According to Pakistani officials, significant fluctuations in the Chenab’s water levels have been recorded since December 7. Geo TV, citing The News, reported that India allegedly released around 58,000 cusecs of water during the midnight hours of December 7 and 8. This surge was followed, Pakistan claims, by a sharp reduction in water flow on December 13, when releases reportedly dropped to an alarmingly low level of approximately 870 cusecs.
The flow is said to have remained between 870 and 1,000 cusecs until December 17, far below historical averages. Data cited by Pakistani media indicate that average Chenab flows during this period over the past decade have typically ranged from 4,000 to 10,000 cusecs. Pakistan has once again urged India to respond to the concerns raised by its Indus Water Commissioner and to avoid taking unilateral steps that could escalate tensions.
Reiterating its position, Pakistan’s Foreign Office emphasised that the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, remains a binding international agreement and has historically served as a stabilising framework for peace in the region. Under the treaty, Pakistan was allocated the three west-flowing rivers — the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum — while India was granted rights over the eastern rivers of the Indus basin.
Andrabi warned that any violation of the treaty not only weakens the agreement itself but also undermines broader principles of international law. The renewed dispute unfolds amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following a brief military confrontation in May. Adding to Pakistan’s concerns, water levels in two major reservoirs in the country reportedly fell to dead storage levels in June this year.
Despite the strong language used, Pakistani officials reiterated their commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means. Andrabi stated that while Pakistan remains open to dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues with India, it would not compromise on what it considers the fundamental and existential water rights of its people.
