South Asia: The Specter of Water Wars in South Asia

Nov 10, 2014 | Seema Sengupta, Arab News
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Maj. Gen. Muniruzzaman, a renowned Bangladeshi security expert had predicted sometime ago that “if ever there were a localized conflict in South Asia, it will be over water.” Water indeed is that spark which is expected to provoke clashes in the Indian subcontinent. And the region’s unquenchable thirst for water has reached such a point that even sovereign governments are alarmingly getting dragged into domestic politics of neighbor.

Take for example the readiness of Bangladesh leadership to play ball with the Indian Hindu nationalists, trying to grab power in the sensitive Indian border state of West Bengal by hook or by crook. The reason — Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League believes Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s legitimate objection to 50:50 sharing of Teesta river water was actually a ploy to ensure her defeat in the farcical general elections held earlier this year. Hasina’s popularity dipped noticeably in Bangladesh prior to the polls and a sizeable majority, especially those associated with farming, was getting disillusioned with her for conceding too much to India on the issue of river water sharing.