Pakistan Defence Minister blames India for flood havoc, claims bodies flowed across border
PTC Web Desk: As catastrophic floods continue to wreak havoc across Pakistan, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stirred controversy by accusing India of worsening the crisis. During a visit to flood-hit Sialkot, Asif alleged that floodwaters rushing from across the border not only inundated villages but also carried bodies, livestock, and heaps of debris into Pakistani territory, according to Dialogue Pakistan.
The minister claimed that local residents reported seeing bodies swept downstream from water channels originating in Jammu, which often cause flooding in Sialkot whenever water is released from the Indian side. He further said India had twice notified Pakistan before releasing water into the rivers but maintained that the inflow of corpses and debris severely hampered municipal teams trying to drain submerged areas.
His remarks triggered a storm on Pakistani social media, with many citizens ridiculing the bizarre claim and accusing the minister of shifting blame from the government’s shortcomings in infrastructure and disaster preparedness.
India’s warning to Pakistan
Earlier this week, India reportedly shared weather alerts and warnings of potential heavy flooding with Pakistan, citing public safety concerns. Several cross-border rivers remain in spate. However, the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty—suspended by India following the April 22 Pahalgam Terror Attack—remains inactive, and no hydrological data is being exchanged through the Indus Commission.
According to officials, the floods in Pakistan have displaced nearly 2,50,000 people and affected over one million residents across Punjab province and beyond. More than 800 lives have been lost since late June.
- With inputs from agencies
