Question : Evaluate the significance of water conflict between India and Pakistan in perspective of water management projects in Indian-held Kashmir.

Since the division of sub-continent into India and Pakistan, these two states have been in skirmishes with each other for certain claims. Among the legitimate assertions of Pakistan since 1947, the right on water has been the most fundamental claim. The water conflict started right after the creation of Pakistan when Delhi decided to stop the flow of water to Pakistan in 1948, which was later somehow solved with the help of the World Bank and a treaty IWT has been signed by both the neighbouring states. The long rivalry and war prone attitude among both the states by taking Kashmir as the vital point compels us to look into the importance of geological position of the same.

Geostrategic location of Kashmir is very important to both india and Pakistan, special, if we take the water control considerations and it never been a un concerned issue. All the giant rivers, specifically, the indus river—hub for Pakistan agriculture—are being controlled by IHK, as most of the head works were been installed there before the partition, and further the northern position of IHK gave it an upper hand. Geopolitics played very concerned role in IHK with the perspective of water conflict between the both south Asian nuclear rivalries

Pakistan perspective in that regards is : Islamabad strongly oppose any kind of activity, whether creation of dam, water power house or else, that would interrupt or hinder the smooth flowing of western rivers to Pakistan, and strongly condemns that manoeuvre as illegitimate and in conflict with agreed up agenda of IWT or the denial of due right to Pakistan.

On the other hand, india’s assertion stated as: IHK is an integral part of india , so do the rivers flowing through it, and Delhi has every right to use that water for the economic purposes or else.

By keeping in mind the high handed claims of both the states, first of all, Pakistan never consider IHK as the legitimate territory of india and always poised it as conflict zone or the troubled region ( as declared by the UNSC), that would make the aforementioned claim of india as void.

Before the aforesaid discussion of IHK, we would look into the different adventures taken by india in IHK on the rivers, upon which both the state have made their due rights, that further the issue and made IHK as vital to their causes.

Kashmir is located at the north most part of Pakistna and IHK is further at the north of Pakistan , that allow all the river to flow to Pakistan from indai via kashmire, and the major head works are also located in the IHK that has been controlling the flow of the rivers. The issue was heightened when india first started working on kashganga water power house without the pre-notice to Pakistan as required by the IWT, as the blunt violation of international laws and proof of anarchic world.

The hostility was at peak when india proposed Ratle and Bughair water power houses on the indus wastern river, that has badly disrupted the water flow to Pakistan in the time of hour. All the aforesaid water power housed has been challenged by Pakistan in ICJ, importantly, the kashganga case is still lingering in the international court. Furthering on the issue, most of the times, Delhi over whelmed the rivers with water at the time of rainy seasons, that ensued into the flood.

Having said the above facts, IHK is very integral and imperative to the waster conflict between Islamabad and Delhi. Perhaps, that is one of the reasons of why Pakistan is such a firm exponent of freedom movement of Kashmiri peoples. The very recent URI attack, that resulted into 18 indian soliders death bought the boarding states again at LOC.

Following the URI attach, india put full blame on Pakistan for sponsoring cross border terrorism and threatened Pakistan with the abolition of IWT, which was strongly rejected by Pakistan by saying that internally bonded IWT cannot be abolished unilaterally and protest in UNGA for such a pathetic claim by india.

Foreign office in Islamabad further clarified her stance on IHK in recent UNGA and Pakistan permanent member to UN apprised UNSC on the atrocities of Indian troops in IHK. IHK is just not about the kashmiris people, it is far more than that. Diplomacy works here! As rightly held in IR that every nation advance for her national benefit.