On Friday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry denied Pakistani media reports claiming that floods were deliberately caused in Pakistan. At a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed the allegations “baseless” and said that the excess water flow in Chenab was the result of heavy rainfall, and not any deliberate action by India.
Jaiswal said the reports contradicted the facts, explaining that the recent increase in the flow of the Chenab River was a direct result of heavy monsoon rainfall over Jammu and adjoining catchment areas between July 20 and 23, 2026.
“We have seen Pakistani media reports claiming that India is intentionally causing floods in Pakistan. These claims are baseless and contrary to facts. The recent increase in flows in the Chenab River is a direct result of heavy monsoon rainfall over Jammu and adjoining catchment areas during July 20-23, 2026,” Jaiswal said at a bi-weekly press conference.
Jaiswal quotes Pakistani weather reports
Jaiswal added that Pakistan itself had earlier attributed the rising water levels in the Chenab River to heavy rainfall in the upper watershed, and said the high flows were expected to continue at Marala before gradually subsiding as rainfall decreased.
“It is noteworthy that the Pakistan Flood Forecasting Department, Lahore, in its flood warning issued on 22 July 2026 (1718 PST), attributed high flood levels in the Chenab River to heavy rainfall over the upper watershed, and stated that high flows are expected to persist at Marala before gradually subsiding as rainfall over the watershed decreases.”
“The rise in river flows is therefore a natural hydrological response to heavy monsoon rainfall and not the result of any deliberate action on the part of India,” he added.
“The claims are factually incorrect because the floods are caused by weather,” says Jaiswal.
Jaiswal also rejected Pakistan’s allegations that India intentionally caused or exacerbated the floods, stressing that these allegations are “factually incorrect and technically untenable.”
He stressed that the floods were weather-triggered by heavy monsoon rains and not a result of any “upstream intervention” by India, and noted that local media reports were contradicting official Pakistani flood warnings.
“Attempts to portray a weather-triggered flood event as an upstream intervention is factually incorrect, technically untenable, and contradicts official flood warnings in Pakistan.”
The Foreign Office spokesperson also denied allegations that India failed to issue flood warnings, saying river flows during this period did not reach levels that would warrant issuing any special alerts. According to Jaiswal, the observed discharge remained consistent with the prevailing monsoon conditions over the upper watershed, a fact also acknowledged by flood forecasting authorities in Pakistan.
“With regard to the allegations regarding flood warnings, river flows during this period did not reach abnormal discharge levels requiring the issuance of special flood warnings. The observed flows were consistent with prevailing monsoon conditions over the upper catchments, as acknowledged by the flood forecasting authorities of Pakistan.”
“Any suggestion that India has deliberately withheld information related to the floods is baseless.”
While specific media reports were not mentioned during the briefing, a report dated July 20 was received dawnHe had claimed, quoting a senior official in Pakistan’s Punjab Irrigation Department, that “India did not provide Pakistan with advance information about upstream river flows.”
The Pakistani official also claimed that no information has been received from India regarding upstream water flows or expected rainfall. “We were expecting rainfall there from July 21 onwards, but the rise came unexpectedly,” he added. dawn.
Data will be shared for humanitarian reasons
Reiterating his stand that India will continue to share data related to severe floods, Jaiswal said at the press conference: “However, as last year, India will share data related to severe floods with Pakistan on humanitarian grounds, through diplomatic channels as and when the situation arises.”
after Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan last year After the Pahalgam attack, India said it would continue to share flood data with Pakistan through diplomatic channels on a purely humanitarian basis.
“We have shared high flood data with Pakistan through our diplomatic channels when required. This data sharing is done through our High Commission in Islamabad,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the time.
At least 26 people were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam last year. India made a strong response to Pakistan, which included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. Prime Minister Modi had then said that “water and blood will not flow together.”
Jaiswal said on Friday that India stands by its position on the treaty. He added, “The Indus Waters Treaty is suspended or will remain suspended until Pakistan irreversibly and credibly renounces its support for cross-border terrorism.”
