Islamabad:
Pakistan stopped on Friday shortly after directly accusing India of using water as a weapon to flood the country, but noted that the information shared by New Delhi about water flows was “not as detailed as in the past” and bypassed the established channel under the Indus Waters Treaty.
In addition, fresh discharge from India brought into the Sutlej River another wave of floods in Punjab on Friday, while water from last week’s destruction increased downstream in Sindh. Officials said they supported for peak levels in the coming days.
I am not able to comment on whether water was stored in a certain way to be released at a certain time. But as for the sharing of information … The Indian side has actually shared some information about the floods in different rivers through diplomatic channels. However, it is not as detailed as it was in the past, “said the Foreign Office’s spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan at his weekly pressing orientation.
He was asked if India deliberately released water to aggravate flooding in Pakistan.
“Furthermore, the established channel for Indus -Water Commissioner has not been used. In this context, we repeat that India must fully comply with all the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty,” he added.
Floods triggered by unprecedented monsoon rain and release of water from India have caused destruction in central and southern Punjab. Floods have broken the nearly 40-year record in Punjab. Some observers suspect that India may have stored water deliberately and discharged in a way to flood Pakistan.
In the relationship with Washington in the context of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Shafqat said questions about the US position should be directed to US officials. He insisted that SCO was not aimed at any country, but a tool for “common prosperity, peace and stability”.
He said Pakistan’s foreign policy remained led by Article 40 of the Constitution, the UN Charter and International Law. The spokesman called Pakistan’s connections with Russia a “priority” and noticed “positive track and momentum” of ties.
Without going into details of the recent discussions at the summit level, he confirmed that Islamabad was serious in pursuing BRICS membership and that Moscow had supported Pakistan’s application.
On a statement from the Taliban defense minister Mullah Yaqoob, the spokesman said it seemed to be “an exercise in irony”, which emphasized that shrines that terrorists enjoyed in Afghanistan, especially the group called Fitna Al Khwarij, remained a “serious topic” between the two neighbors.
“It has been discussed with the greatest seriousness at very senior levels in the state between the two countries … It is still a question, as the Bedevil connections between two close neighbors,” he said.
Mullah Yaqub insisted in a recent interview that there was no terrorist squat on Afghan Earth and accused Pakistan of his own security errors.
When asked about the alleged cross -border strikes in Afghanistan, the spokesman insisted without explicit by Afghan territory that security forces performed only “targeted operations in border regions” against terrorist threats.
Last week, the Taliban government called a Pakistani envoy in Kabul and recorded a protest over reports of air strikes. “Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and remains steadfast in his commitment to promoting dialogue and cooperation … We urge the Afghan authorities to ensure that their territory is not used as a launch plate for terrorist activities against Pakistan,” he added.
In response to another question about the UN concerns over Afghan refugees, Shafqat emphasized that Pakistan had been the most generous host for over five decades. “What we say is that people who have no documentation they will be sent back. It is our territory, we decide who remains in … any Afghan who will come, he is more than welcome with a valid visa. We have a very liberal visa regime for Afghan people,” he added.
Floods
In Khanewal, the Pul Rango dam at the head Sidhnai, which had thrown himself into extreme flooding pressure, was repaired by the authorities. Still, the flooding situation in Punjab remains uncertain, with rescue and relief operations continuing around the clock.
India’s release of additional river water has detached destruction over southern Punjab, with heavy flood in the rivers Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab broke several dams and submerged dozens of villages.
India has officially informed Pakistan about another release of water in Sutlej. Following notification from the Indian High Commission, Pakistan’s water resources issued the Ministry a flood alarm warned of high flood levels in Harike and Ferozepur.
According to Punjab’s PDMA, water inflow in Sutlej will increase further, and an alarm with high flood has been declared throughout the province. DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia said the civil administration, army and relevant departments were on duty.
At Ganda Singh Wala, Sutlej’s stream reached a dangerous 327,000 CUSCS. High flood levels were also registered on Sulaimanki and Islam major works, immersive streams and settlements in four tehsils by Bahawalpur.
The river Ravi situation is also alarming: the head Sidhnai faces extremely high flood levels, while the water inflow at the head Balloki has exceeded 138,760 CUSSCS. Similarly, Chenab continued to rise near Khanki, head Qadirabad and Chiniot.
In Multan, water swollen at the Shujaabad channel near Qasim Bela to three times its original capacity and caused overflow in the surrounding areas. The Shershah Dam also flooded and submerged several settlements where residents had no chance of evacuating.
The entry of flooding water in Sikandari drainage has triggered alarms for populations nearby. Constant pressure on Akbar flooding target has led to violations, with flood rates sweeping into Akbarpur, Basti Kotwal and adjacent locations.
Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala was swollen to extraordinary levels earlier this week and forced rapid deployment of the army rescue teams across affected districts. Help operations are underway in Talamba, Mian Channu, Abdul Hakeem and Muzaffargarh, where thousands of people and livestock are already evacuated.
In Sahiwal, flooding from Ravi affected 49 villages. To control the crisis, 30 emergency camps have been established by the army and civil administration. Similar operations are underway in Behrampur, Rangpur, Jawana Bangla, Muradabad, Doaba and Ashiq Chowk, where army boats have saved marooned families.
Medical camps in flood centers provide free treatment and distribute food, clean water and medicine. Disposable families have praised army staff for their service and victims during the crisis.
According to Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 49 people have died in flood -related events so far, while almost 3.9 million have been affected by rising waters in Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab Rivers.
The PDMA report noted that over 3,900 sites have suffered damage. About 1,839 million people struggled by floods have been moved to safer areas. More than 1.3 million animals have also moved.
Punjab’s Emergency Aid Commissioner Nabeel Javed confirmed that the provincial government with Army Aid is working to ensure the protection of life, property and livestock.
Sindh staged after incoming waters
As Punjab struggles with destruction, flooding water went into Sindh, where authorities are struggling to prepare for high streams by larger barriers. Main Minister Murad Ali Shah was chairman of an emergency meeting to review the situation, instructs officials to set up emergency camps, plan evacuations and reinforce dams.
Sindh’s government has already set up 528 emergency relief camps across vulnerable districts, although officials said many residents are reluctant to leave their homes. Nevertheless, 109,320 people have moved from Katcha (river) areas for more secure ground.
Evacuations are underway in Sukkur, Kandiaro, Rohri and Dadu. In Sukkur and nearby Katcha areas, 42 people were moved to safety, while another 21 residents were moved from the Mohabbat Dero Village in Kandiaro.
In New Succur, 21 individuals, including 14 men, one woman and six children, were rescued from Hajji Faqir Muhammad Jatoi Village. Flood Emergency Medical Camps has also been established in DADU, which delivers women’s Up and Mothers’ healthcare to displaced families.
The army and civilian authorities continue joint operations in both Punjab and Sindh as flooding water brings destruction across tiles. Auxiliary efforts have been praised by many victims, but officials warn that the extent of displacement and destruction remains huge.
With dams under constant pressure and large stretches of agricultural land and villages underwater, the twin provinces face one of the most serious flooding situations in recent memory.
(With additional input from our correspondents in Lahore and Karachi)
