India’s Decision to Stop Sharing Flood Data with Pakistan Raises Concerns
In a move that has raised concerns in the region, India has announced that it will no longer share hydrological data with Pakistan, a crucial aspect of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between the two countries. The treaty, which requires India to share data with Pakistan, is essential for flood forecasting and planning for irrigation, hydropower, and drinking water. According to Pradeep Kumar Saxena, India’s former IWT commissioner, cited in a report by the BBC, India can now stop sharing flood data with Pakistan.
The region is prone to damaging floods during the monsoon season, which begins in June and lasts until September. However, Pakistani authorities have stated that India was already sharing limited hydrological data. Shiraz Memon, Pakistan’s former additional commissioner of the Indus Waters Treaty, told the BBC Urdu that "India was sharing only around 40% of the data even before it made the latest announcement." This raises concerns about the impact on flood forecasting and planning in Pakistan.
One of the contentious issues that arise during water-related tensions in the region is the possibility of the upstream country "weaponising" water against the downstream country. This is often referred to as a "water bomb," where the upstream country can temporarily hold back water and then release it suddenly, without warning, causing massive damage downstream. The BBC reports that experts say India would first risk flooding its own territory, as its dams are far from the Pakistan border. However, India could now flush silt from its reservoirs without prior warning, potentially causing damage downstream in Pakistan.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, is a critical agreement between India and Pakistan that governs the sharing of the Indus river and its tributaries. The treaty requires India to share hydrological data with Pakistan, which is essential for flood forecasting and planning. The BBC notes that Himalayan rivers like the Indus carry high silt levels, which quickly accumulate in dams and barrages. Sudden flushing of this silt can cause significant downstream damage.
The bigger picture involves India’s relationship with China, which is downstream of India in the Brahmaputra basin, and the Indus originates in Tibet. In 2016, after India warned that "blood and water cannot flow together" following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan, China blocked a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo – that becomes the Brahmaputra in northeast India. China claimed it was necessary for a hydropower project they were building near the border, but the timing of the move was seen as Beijing coming in to help Islamabad.
The BBC reports that China has since built several hydropower plants in Tibet and has green-lit what will be the world’s largest dam on the lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo. Beijing claims minimal environmental impact, but India fears it could give China significant control over the river’s flow. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the decision by India to stop sharing flood data with Pakistan has raised concerns in the region, and the implications of this move will be closely watched.
The Indus Waters Treaty has been a cornerstone of India-Pakistan relations, and any changes to the agreement could have far-reaching consequences. The BBC notes that experts will be watching closely to see how the situation develops, particularly in the context of the region’s delicate water dynamics. As Shiraz Memon, Pakistan’s former additional commissioner of the Indus Waters Treaty, told the BBC Urdu, the impact of India’s decision on flood forecasting and planning in Pakistan will be significant.
