Villagers near Pakistan's borders endure consecutive displacements due to military conflicts and subsequent flooding events

Pakistan Faces Multiple Crises: Floods, Cross-Border Battles, and the Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty

Pakistan is currently grappling with multiple crises, including floods, cross-border battles with India, and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The latest round of cross-border battles was triggered by an attack that killed 26 people, which India claims was carried out by militants backed by Pakistan, a claim Pakistan denies.

The floods in Kasur, a city close to the Indian border, started earlier this month and have worsened. Rescue worker Muhammad Arsalan has ferried over 1,500 people to safety by boat in recent days. The monsoon, which followed the cross-border battles, caused the rivers to flood, leading to the evacuation of 210,000 people from flooded areas. At least 28 deaths have been reported so far due to the floods.

Villagers like Shama, a 30-year-old mother, have been driven from their homes by the cross-border battles. Shama has evacuated her village in eastern Pakistan twice this year, once due to the cross-border fighting between India and Pakistan in May, and again due to the floodwaters from the Indian border. Many villagers hesitated to evacuate, according to Muhammad Arsalan.

The crisis in Pakistan has been worsened by India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, halting the exchange of river data. The treaty, which regulates rivers shared by India and Pakistan, was first interrupted by India in 2016. Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that if the treaty was in operation, they could have managed the impact of the floods better.

The back-to-back displacements have underscored the vulnerability of communities straddling Pakistan's volatile eastern border. Farmers in the affected areas have reported that the deluge has wrecked their livelihoods. Officials warn that the crisis could worsen as climate change intensifies monsoons and cross-border river disputes strain disaster planning.

In the midst of the chaos, residents in Kasur, which is close to the Indian border, can see Indian checkposts from their rooftops and rescue boats. The mosque in Kasur is broadcasting evacuation calls. Zubaida, a resident affected by the floods, expressed that they don't want war or excess water, they just want to live. Bibi Zubaida, a 27-year-old mother, lives with seven relatives in a three-bedroom house in Kasur and has been affected by the floods.

Nawabuddin, a 74-year-old landowner, has recalled the most memorable floods he witnessed in his lifetime - 1988, 2023, and the current one. The flows in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala are the highest in decades, after a breach at an Indian barrage.

The Indus Waters Treaty, which has been a cornerstone of peace between India and Pakistan since 1960, is currently suspended, adding to the complexities of the situation. The future of the treaty and the situation in Pakistan remain uncertain.

Villagers near Pakistan's borders endure consecutive displacements due to military conflicts and subsequent flooding events