Water Dispute between India and Pakistan: An Analysis

Abstract

Water disputes between India and Pakistan revolve around river basins and are rooted in the
region's geography, shared history, and culture. Tensions about water issues in South Asia have
escalated significantly due to the deteriorating relations between Pakistan and India, stemming
from India's inequitable practices in water allocation. Pakistan and India engaged in conflict
over the Indus basin rather than negotiating the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which both nations
have upheld for over 63 years despite two wars and the nuclear age. The water issue between
India and Pakistan is a protracted conflict that worsens each day. The presence of nuclear
arsenals in the region has added to the volatility of water disputes. This situation requires that
water conflicts between Pakistan and India be studied, and possible alternate options and
strategies may be explored to lessen the intensity of the water conflicts between Pakistan and
India. Thus, the study examined the water disputes between the two countries. The hydrohegemony framework was put in to understand the water disputes between India and Pakistan
because India lands in the graph of negative hegemony. The study suggests that both countries'
water management should have feasible regional arrangements