Hydrodiplomacy over Hostility: Rethinking Water Sharing amid India-Pakistan Tensions

May 10, 2025 | Hazim El-Naser
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In recent weeks, military skirmishes have erupted along the India-Pakistan border, particularly in the disputed region of Kashmir. The escalation followed a militant attack that tragically claimed the lives of 26 tourists in the Indian-dominated area, marking the deadliest incident of its kind in the past 25 years in this Muslim-majority region. In response, India cut off water from the Baghliha and Sillal dams, followed by military actions that have intensified the situation on both sides of the border. The conflict has deepened due to the agricultural and economic significance of the Indus Basin, which is vital to Pakistan as it irrigates more than 60 per cent of the country's territory. Water has become both a weapon and a critical point of contention, exacerbating already strained relations.