Pakistan’s Foreign Office has accused **India of manipulating the flow of the Chenab River, saying sudden fluctuations in water levels threaten agricultural productivity, food security and livelihoods downstream. Islamabad raised its concerns at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, where spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan has formally written to India seeking clarification under procedures outlined in the Indus Waters Treaty after observing “abrupt variation” in river discharge.
Officials noted that recent reports indicated India released a large volume of water into the Chenab at Head Marala in early December and then sharply reduced the flow to well below the historical average for this period, a pattern Islamabad says was not preceded by prior notification as required under treaty protocols. Pakistan has described these unilateral changes as serious, asserting any manipulation of river flows at a critical point in the agricultural cycle directly endangers the life, livelihood, and economic security of its citizens.
The Foreign Office reiterated that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 remains a binding international agreement and urged New Delhi to fulfil its obligations “in letter and spirit.” Islamabad said its Indus Waters Commissioner has sought detailed operational data and a response from the Indian side, stressing Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes while maintaining that its water rights must not be compromised.