India rejects Pakistan's flood allegations as baseless, cites monsoon data

India has formally dismissed allegations from Pakistan that New Delhi deliberately caused flooding in the Chenab river, calling the claims baseless and factually incorrect. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the recent increase in river flows was a direct consequence of heavy monsoon rainfall over Jammu and adjoining catchment areas from July 20 to July 23.

In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that Pakistan's own Flood Forecasting Division, in its July 22 advisory, attributed the high flood levels in the Chenab to intense rainfall over the upper catchment. The advisory noted that high flows at Marala were expected to persist before gradually receding as rainfall decreased. 'The rise in river flows is a natural hydrological response to heavy monsoon rainfall and not the result of any deliberate action by India,' Jaiswal said. He added that attempts to portray a weather-driven flood event as an upstream intervention are 'factually incorrect, technically untenable, and contradicted by Pakistan's own official flood advisories.'

The MEA also reiterated India's position on the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that it will continue to be held in abeyance until Pakistan 'credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.' However, India confirmed it will continue to share high flood data with Pakistan on humanitarian grounds, as it did last year, through diplomatic channels as and when the situation arises. Jaiswal noted that during the current period, river flows did not reach extraordinary discharge levels that would require issuance of flood warnings.

The response comes amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours, with Pakistan repeatedly accusing India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty. India maintains that it adheres to the treaty's provisions and that the sharing of flood data demonstrates its commitment to humanitarian principles despite ongoing security concerns.