Transboundary River Cooperation and Peacebuilding: Revisiting the Indus Waters Treaty Between India and Pakistan

Pintu Kumar Mahla, University of Arizona (India)

People have long recognised that cooperation on transboundary rivers is an effective way to foster peace and stability in conflict-prone areas. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 between India and Pakistan stands as a rare example of a bilateral agreement that has endured through numerous wars and decades of political hostility. However, escalating water scarcity, climate change, and divergent development priorities increasingly threaten the treaty's resilience. This study examines the IWT as both a conflict prevention tool and a potential trigger for renewed tension, framing it within broader theories of peacebuilding and environmental governance. The paper employs a mixed qualitative approach, including analysis of treaty texts, a review of hydro-political literature, and a case study of recent disputes over hydroelectric projects and water flows. Findings indicate that while the treaty has successfully established the Permanent Indus Commission and third-party arbitration for dispute resolution, its rigid framework hampers adaptability to environmental and political changes. Moreover, climate-induced fluctuations in river flows may heighten mistrust among riparian states. The conclusion emphasises that strengthening the IWT requires adaptive governance structures, enhanced transparency, and collaborative ecological management, transforming water from a source of conflict into a cornerstone of sustainable peacebuilding in South Asia.