India has shared a warning on possible cross-border flooding with neighbour Pakistan as the enemies deal with deadly floods and relentless monsoon rains.
The move was confirmed by Pakistani officials and an Indian source.
The information-sharing has come as a surprise because New Delhi put a decades-old treaty with Islamabad on water access in "abeyance" in April after linking a deadly attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir to Pakistan.
Islamabad denied any involvement. The tensions escalated in May to the worst military clash in decades between the nuclear-armed rivals.
The High Commission of India in Islamabad shared the warning with Pakistan's foreign ministry on "humanitarian grounds" and not under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, the Indian source said, following heavy rains in the Jammu and Kashmir region bordering Pakistan.
The source, citing government rules, declined to be named. India's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Pakistan's foreign ministry said the warning was issued through diplomatic channels "rather than through the Indus Waters Commission as required under the Indus Waters Treaty".
The floods have killed at least 60 people in northern India and nearly 400 more in northwest Pakistan.
In total, 799 people have died in Pakistan since the monsoon started in late June, the country's National Disaster Management Authority said, warning of more heavy rain until 10 September.
Mazhar Hussain, a disaster management official in the Pakistani province of Punjab, said the information shared by India included a warning about a possible surge in the Tawi river, which becomes the Sutlej when it crosses into Pakistan.
"It has not indicated the scale of water but has warned about high flooding in the river," Mr Hussain said.
"Moreover, heavy rains across the border have filled the Indian dams, which would force India to release water.
"Heavy rains in Pakistan and the water released by India would cause high floods in Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab in Punjab."
Under the 1960 treaty, three rivers that flow westwards from India were awarded to Pakistan and three eastern-flowing rivers granted to India.
Pakistan fears that India could choke its main water supply, putting at risk most of its agriculture and hydro-power.
In its statement, Pakistan's foreign ministry reiterated its call on India to comply with all provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.
"India's unilateral declaration to hold the Treaty inabeyance constitutes a serious violation of international law and could have significant negative consequences for peace and stability in South Asia."
Accreditation Reuters
