The longstanding conflict between India and Pakistan over shared water resources remains one of the most pressing and complex challenges in South Asia. Since the partition of British India in 1947, water disputes have significantly influenced bilateral relations. The scarcity of water, intensified by climate change, population growth, and increasing agricultural demand, has turned rivers like the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab into sources of contention. This conflict transcends mere resource allocation and carries deep political, economic, and security implications. In 1960, the World Bank brokered the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to manage water sharing between the two nations. The treaty allocated the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) to India and the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) to Pakistan. India retained limited rights to use the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes, such as hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and navigation. Despite surviving three major wars and several military skirmishes between India and Pakistan, the IWT is increasingly being tested. Critics argue that the treaty, though resilient, has failed to evolve with the region's changing climatic and political realities. New dam projects and infrastructural developments have further strained relations, especially with Pakistan frequently accusing India of violating treaty provisions.
