Conflict and Cooperation on South Asian Water Resources

South Asia is gradually heading towards a shortfall of water, which is being exacerbated by growing population, industrialisation, mismanagement, and lack of cooperation. This region hosts major systems of international watercourses, including the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. South Asian countries have taken initiatives to cooperate in development and management of water resources, but have serious issues and disputes in this sector. Because of its central location in the region and its sharing of borders with most SAARC countries, India is at the centre of water disputes in the region. It has water treaties and issues/disputes with Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The unilateral behaviour of India, asymmetric power relations among states, absence of framework agreements, nationalistic sentiments among smaller states, and lack of regional mechanism to share waters are among the main reasons for water disputes in South Asia. Therefore, to really benefit from the water resources available in the region, South Asian countries need to be more forthcoming and cooperative among themselves, with due consideration for the interests of smaller states; they have to leave their historical baggage behind and move forward with a sense of trust and understanding; they should come out of narrow nationalism and undue sensitivity, and focus on development; and they have to harness the water resources under a regional mechanism.