Islamabad, August 29, 2025 – Pakistan is reeling under one of the most devastating floods in decades, with entire regions submerged and life thrown into chaos. Punjab, Sialkot, and adjoining areas have been the worst hit, where swollen rivers have swallowed villages, destroyed crops, and displaced lakhs.
According to official figures, more than 800 people have lost their lives, over 12 lakh citizens have been affected, and 2.5 lakh have been displaced. Around 1,432 villages are underwater, while businesses remain shut and thousands are sheltering in temporary relief camps.
The government has set up nearly 700 relief camps and 265 medical camps, yet the ground reality paints a picture of desperation. Relief operations are hampered by heavy rains, damaged infrastructure, and the sheer scale of destruction.
Khwaja Asif’s Controversial Claim
During his visit to flood-affected Sialkot, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khwaja Mohammad Asif stirred controversy with a peculiar statement. He alleged that the floodwaters released from India carried with them “piles of corpses, cattle, and debris”, obstructing relief efforts in Sialkot.
He further claimed that Sialkot lies downstream from waterways released by India, and each time India discharges water, the city faces devastation. However, in a contradictory admission, Asif conceded that India had informed Pakistan twice in advance before releasing water, in line with established protocols.
Social Media Backlash
The statement quickly went viral across Pakistani social media, drawing widespread criticism. Many users accused the government of scapegoating India to hide its own failures in flood preparedness and infrastructure management.
Some sarcastically commented, “Floods come with water, not corpses.” Others argued that repeated finger-pointing at India has become a political distraction rather than a solution for Pakistan’s recurring flood crises.
India-Pakistan Water Dispute Context
This episode comes against the backdrop of strained water relations between the two nations. The Indus Water Treaty, which governs water-sharing arrangements, remains in limbo since April 2025, when India suspended data-sharing following an attack in Pahalgam.
Still, India had reportedly warned Pakistan about the possibility of heavy floods due to bad weather, demonstrating that communication channels were not entirely closed.
Historical Floods After 38 Years
The Pakistani Irrigation Department confirmed that for the first time in nearly four decades, the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers are simultaneously in spate. This rare confluence has made rescue operations extremely challenging.
Army units, local administration, and relief workers are working round the clock, but with over 1,400 villages affected, the scale of the disaster remains overwhelming.
A Nation Under Water – And Pressure
As Pakistan battles rising waters, mounting criticism, and internal political rifts, one thing is certain: the floods have exposed deep cracks in governance and disaster management. While leaders debate blame, millions of ordinary Pakistanis remain stranded, homeless, and in urgent need of help.
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