Islamabad, Pakistan – For the second time in three years, catastrophic monsoon floods have caused widespread devastation across Pakistan’s north and central regions, significantly affecting Punjab province. The flooding has led to the submersion of villages, the death of hundreds, and the displacement of millions.
This year, India, Pakistan’s archrival and nuclear-armed neighbor, faces similar challenges. Heavy monsoon rains have caused extensive flooding in its northern states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Indian Punjab, leading to swollen rivers on both sides of the border.
Since the monsoon season began in late June, the floods have led to at least 884 deaths nationwide in Pakistan, with over 220 in Punjab. In India, the death toll has exceeded 100, including over 30 in Indian Punjab.
However, the shared suffering hasn’t brought the two countries closer. Pakistan’s federal minister, Ahsan Iqbal, has accused India of deliberately releasing excess water from dams without proper warnings, suggesting it as a form of water aggression against Pakistan.
However, experts argue that it is unlikely that India deliberately sought to cause flooding in Pakistan. The potential risks to India itself from such a strategy outweigh any benefits.
The deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan have escalated following the Pahalgam attack earlier this year and India’s subsequent withdrawal from the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty. Both countries have reported military conflicts and the fear of India possibly stopping or controlling water flow into Pakistan has risen.
Despite these fears, India has issued multiple warnings about potential cross-border flooding to Pakistan. Water experts also argue that the primary cause of floods should not be solely attributed to water releases from Indian dams but should include the common challenges both countries face due to climate change and aging infrastructure.
Both Pakistan and India depend on the Himalayan and Karakoram rivers, with Pakistan relying on the Indus river basin for its population and agriculture. India controls the eastern rivers, while Pakistan controls the western ones.
However, climate change and intense monsoon seasons have pushed river levels dangerously high, leading to a shared strain on both countries’ infrastructure. The control and release of water from dams have become essential for flood management on both sides.
Experts argue that blaming one country for flooding serves short-term political interests rather than addressing the urgent, shared challenges brought about by climate change. The blame game could further political tensions rather than focusing on real-time data systems and better flood mitigation strategies.
Rivers are living entities, and it’s impossible to control floods entirely. Therefore, shifting the blame won’t stop the floods but may serve as an excuse to avoid responsibility.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/5/has-india-weaponised-water-to-deliberately-flood-pakistan?traffic_source=rss
