Indus Water Commissioner reports sharp drop in Chenab levels, flow stood at just 1,800 cusecs on Dec 16 recorded data
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a meeting in Islamabad on September 30 . Photo: x.com/File
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has accused India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that New Delhi’s alleged manipulation of water flows into Pakistan could trigger a humanitarian crisis, as water levels in the Chenab River continue to fall.
The warning comes amid fluctuating water patterns on the river system. On December 8, reports indicated that India had released a surge of water into the Chenab River, pushing the flow up to 58,300 cusecs. However, Pakistani officials said levels have since plunged sharply.
A day earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi criticised India for ‘continued violations’ of the treaty, expressing serious concern over what he described as ‘abrupt variation’ in the river’s flow, an issue that has drawn domestic media attention
Read: Pakistan accuses India of manipulating Chenab River flow
Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah on Friday told reporters that a significant decline had been detected in Chenab levels, adding that Pakistan formally raised the matter with his Indian counterpart.
He said the river’s flow was recorded at just 1,800 cusecs on December 16, accusing India of withholding advance hydrological data in violation of the treaty.
Shah said Pakistan had fully adhered to its obligations, warning that the lack of cooperation from India was a ‘serious matter’.
Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Friday reported a total release of 75,600 cusecs from rim stations against an inflow of 37,800 cusecs. Data released by IRSA showed the Indus River at Tarbela Dam stood at 1,486.39 feet, 84.39 feet above dead level, with an inflow of 18,900 cusecs and an outflow of 27,000 cusecs.
At Mangla Dam, water levels were recorded at 1,202.40 feet—152.40 feet above dead level—with inflow and outflow at 3,300 cusecs and 33,000 cusecs, respectively.
Releases at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur were logged at 33,500 cusecs, 24,500 cusecs, 27,800 cusecs and 1,400 cusecs, respectively. From the Kabul River, 7,700 cusecs were released at Nowshera, while 1,900 cusecs were discharged into the Chenab at Marala.
Earlier, addressing members of the diplomatic corps, Dar voiced concerns over what he described as ‘unusual and abrupt’ variations in Chenab flows twice this year — between April 30 and May 21, and again from December 7 to 15.
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He said India’s alleged manipulation of water during critical phases of Pakistan’s agricultural calendar threatened lives, livelihoods, and food security.
He accused India of halting the exchange of advance information, hydrological data and joint oversight mandated under the treaty, warning the disruption exposed Pakistan to potential floods and droughts. Dar also argued that India’s conduct was in violation of international law, including Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
According to him, Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner had already sought clarification from India under mechanisms within the treaty, urging New Delhi to halt what he termed ‘unilateral manipulation’ of river flows.
Dar further alleged that India was attempting to undermine the treaty through hydropower projects such as Kishanganga and Ratle, claiming these violated IWT specifications. He said increased Indian water storage capacity through dam-building posed serious economic risks to Pakistan and endangered livelihoods.
The deputy prime minister also accused India of placing the treaty in ‘unlawful and unilateral abeyance’, saying this amounted to the weaponisation of water. He claimed Pakistan has recorded a severe reduction in Chenab flows and is awaiting India’s response to an official communication on the matter.
Dar noted that the Permanent Court of Arbitration had recently reaffirmed the validity of the treaty and its dispute-resolution framework, saying Pakistan would not accept Indian non-compliance ‘with impunity’.
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He recalled that Pakistan’s National Security Committee had termed any move to divert or halt river flows into Pakistan an ‘act of war’. Dar urged the United Nations Security Council and global capitals to press India to restore full treaty implementation and halt the ‘weaponisation of water’.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution, but said the country would not compromise on its ‘existential water rights’.
It may be recalled that in April, India unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after an attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people — an incident New Delhi attributed to Pakistan. Islamabad denied the allegation and stated that withholding its water share under the treaty would constitute an ‘act of war’, pointing out that the agreement contained no provision for a unilateral suspension.
