Pakistan Seeks India Explanation on Chenab Flows

Pakistan has formally contacted India over India’s water aggression, seeking an explanation for the unusual reduction in the Chenab River flows.

After a conflict between Pakistan and India, the latter had threatened to halt water flows into Pakistani rivers.

Read More: The deadlock between Pakistan and India continues on water issues

“Pakistan seeks explanation from India over the unusual reduction in Chenab river flows,” the water ministry said, adding that under the Indus Waters Treaty, emptying dead storage is prohibited.

The Ministry said that Pakistan had noted a noticeable improvement in Chenab flows beginning from December 17. It further added that continuous monitoring of the Chenab is underway by the Irrigation Department.

“Stability has returned after an unusual decline in water flow in the Chenab river, says the Ministry of Water Resources, adding that Chenab water flows at Marala are returning to the normal range.

From December 10 to 16, water flows in the Chenab river were recorded far below the historical levels of the past ten years, says the Ministry of Water Resources, adding that the minimum flow in the Chenab had dropped to 870 cusecs.

Official monitoring of the Chenab River flow at Marala (excluding Jamu and Manawar Tawi) is being conducted by the Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab, Pakistan.

The monitored data is shared by the Irrigation Department with the office of the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters.

The data so received indicates that the discharge of Chemab River (mainstem) has successfully stabilized following a significant period of volatility.

Hydrological records from the first half of December 2025 confirm that an extraordinary reduction in flows was observed, persisting from December 10 to December 16, 2025.

During this window, the river flow frequently dropped, and the lowest flow observed was 870 cusecs, which was significantly below the historical 10-year minimum range of approximately 4,018 to 4,406 cusecs for those dates.

In order to assess the reason for extraordinary reduction in flows of Chenab Main at Marala, a significant reduction inthe surface area of Baglihar has been observed on satellite imagery of 8 December 2025, which was increased as per the imagery of 13 December 2025.

This reduction, followed by an increase in the surface area of the Baglihar reservoir, leads one to believe that India has emptied the Baglihar reservoir, followed by its refilling.

In a statement, water ministry clarified that, according to the Indus Waters Treaty, India cannot empty the dead storage of the reservoirs of the run-of-river hydroelectric plants developed on the Western Rivers.

Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters has taken up the matter with the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters and asked for the details/data relating to the extraordinary reduction in flows ofthe  Chenab River, under the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty.

A positive shift in river hydrology began on December 17, 2025, as the river flow began to rise steadily. By 07:00 hrs on the 17th, the flow reached 6,399 cusecs, effectively entering the historical ten-year range for the first time since the mid-month decline. Punjab Irrigation Department data indicate that as of December 19, 2025, the river flows are presently within the last ten-year range of maximum to minimum flows.

For instance, recent readings on the 19th show flows of 4,505 cusecs and 6,494 cusecs, which align with or exceed historical expectations for this time of year. Continuous monitoring will remain in effect to ensure that water management strategies adapt to any future fluctuations. Any information being provided from sources other than the offiice of the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters carries no effect whatsoever.