India uses Pakistan's own data to reject Islamabad's claims of causing flooding

India, on Friday, rejected allegations that it deliberately caused flooding in Pakistan, calling the claims “baseless and contrary to the facts”, while saying New Delhi would continue sharing high-flood data with Islamabad on humanitarian grounds in the future, like it did in the past.

Responding to Pakistani media reports alleging that India was responsible for the flooding, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the recent increase in the flow of the Chenab river was caused by heavy monsoon rainfall.

“We have seen Pakistani media reports alleging that India is deliberately causing flooding in Pakistan and such allegations are baseless and contrary to the facts,” Jaiswal said.

He said the increase in the Chenab's flow was a “direct consequence of intense monsoon rainfall over Jammu and adjoining catchment areas during 20–23 July 2026”.

Jaiswal pointed out that Pakistan's own Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore had attributed the high flood levels in the Chenab to heavy rainfall over the upper catchment.

In its flood advisory issued on July 22, the Pakistani authority had also said high flows at Marala were expected to persist before gradually receding as rainfall over the catchment decreased, according to the MEA.

“The rise in river flows is, therefore, a natural hydrological response to heavy monsoon rainfall and not the result of any deliberate action by India,” Jaiswal said.

He strongly rejected attempts to attribute the flooding to an intervention by India, saying, “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 dismissed allegations that India had failed to provide Pakistan with flood warnings.

Jaiswal said river flows during the period had not reached extraordinary discharge levels that would require special flood warnings. The flows observed were consistent with the prevailing monsoon conditions in the upper catchment areas, something he said had also been acknowledged by Pakistan's flood forecasting authorities.

“Any suggestion that India deliberately withheld flood-related information is, therefore, without factual basis,” he said.

However, India will continue sharing high-flood information with Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

“Nevertheless, like last year, India will share high-flood data with Pakistan on humanitarian grounds, through diplomatic channels as and when a situation arises,” Jaiswal said.

On Indus Waters Treaty

Jaiswal also reiterated India's position on the Indus Waters Treaty after Pakistan raised issues at the ASEAN forum.

“The ASEAN forum was utilised by Pakistan to make certain remarks. We have issued categorical rejections of the issues raised through our press release,” he said.

On the treaty, Jaiswal said India's position remained unchanged.

“The Indus Waters Treaty remains in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably and credibly abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” he said.

Meanwhile, responding to issues concerning China and sovereignty, Jaiswal referred to external affairs minister's remarks that India does not violate China's sovereignty.

He said China has been in “illegal occupation of Indian territories in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963” and added that India objects to Chinese projects being undertaken in territories in Jammu and Kashmir that New Delhi considers its own.