The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on September 5, 2025, that India has been sharing high flood data with Pakistan, describing the action as a humanitarian gesture in the face of Pakistan’s ongoing flood emergency.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing the weekly media briefing, explained that the transmission of flood-related data was being facilitated through diplomatic channels, particularly India’s High Commission in Islamabad, and was carried out on an “as required” basis depending on the severity of rainfall and flood conditions.

Jaiswal emphasised that while the communication is not routine, India has been extending such information whenever it becomes critical, underlining that the cooperation is being offered purely on humanitarian grounds without any political undertone.

This development comes at a time when Pakistan is struggling against one of its most destructive flood seasons in recent years, caused by relentless monsoon rains, flash floods, and glacial lake outbursts. According to official figures, over 800 people have lost their lives, with more than 1.2 million people affected across multiple provinces, including Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The disaster has not only displaced tens of thousands of families but has also inflicted heavy damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and major road networks, thereby amplifying Pakistan’s ongoing economic distress. Initial assessments suggest financial losses could rise as high as USD 50 billion, putting additional strain on a country already grappling with economic instability, debt, and food supply pressures.

India’s decision to provide early warning data stands out in the broader context of bilateral relations, which have remained tense for years over territorial and security issues. The August 26, 2025 communication, transmitted by the Indian High Commission to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided critical input on possible flood risks, allowing Islamabad to proactively prepare disaster mitigation measures.

Indian officials emphasised that the notification was extended solely in a spirit of humanitarian concern, highlighting the lifesaving importance of data exchange in transboundary river basins where floods do not respect political boundaries.

Meanwhile, Pakistani disaster management authorities have been issuing their own alerts. On September 4, 2025, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab warned of heavy thunderstorms forecast between September 6 and 9 across key districts such as Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, and Sialkot.

Local administration has been put on high alert, with commissioners and deputy commissioners instructed to mobilise precautionary and emergency response measures, particularly in Dera Ghazi Khan, where a high risk of flash flooding exists. The PDMA underscored the likelihood of urban flooding, landslides in hilly areas, and disruption of transport networks during this period.

The cooperative element of India’s flood data sharing aligns with international humanitarian practices under which upstream nations provide timely hydrological data to downstream neighbours in cases of extreme weather.

Experts argue that such exchanges, even in strained political environments, serve as critical confidence-building measures and reflect the necessity of regional resilience against climate-induced crises. With climate change accelerating glacial melt and intensifying rainfall patterns across the Himalayas, the threat of cross-border flood hazards is projected to rise.

In conclusion, while India and Pakistan remain at odds on multiple geopolitical fronts, New Delhi’s provision of high flood data represents a rare instance of practical humanitarian engagement. It not only potentially aids Pakistan’s disaster response but also underscores the increasing urgency of transboundary cooperation in the South Asian subcontinent, where climate vulnerabilities are intensifying at a pace faster than political reconciliations.

The unfolding flood crisis could thus serve as a reminder of the essential need for structured data-sharing mechanisms and collaborative risk mitigation between neighbouring states exposed to the same ecological challenges.

Based On ANI Report