Can the water war between India and Pakistan become world’s deadliest climate change induced conflict?

And we are also well acquainted with the water war that is going on between India and Pakistan over the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. And we know that both India and Pakistan (who are already the bitter rivals of each other for so many reasons) possess nuclear weapons. So if a war starts between these two nations over water, it can be the biggest of its kind, undoubtedly.

(Courtesy: ClearIAS)

Let’s look at the problem digging a bit deeper.

According to the Indus Water Treaty that was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, some percentage of water of the river Indus and its tributaries, flowing into Pakistan from India and Kashmir is to be given to Pakistan. Now, this water is the major (and perhaps only) source of freshwater in Pakistan and it is the water on which the entire agriculture of the country is dependent.

Pakistan is well aware of the fact that if India stops the flow of the Indus water, the country will have to face an extreme crisis and will be forced to get water exported.

India, however, has thought about doing the same more often than not. And Pakistan has accused India of threatening it with the warnings. You must have known the rumors about stopping the Indus Water after the Pulwama Attack. In 2016 too, India threatened Pakistan in the same manner.

But the question is will India really do so, starting the biggest climate-change induced conflict?

It seems India cannot (Yes, like always Modi Government fooled us to make the public aggressive about the #badla).

(Courtesy: FindTop10s.com)

Here comes the part where India itself can suffer from a water crisis if it did what Pakistan fears. China, which lies further upstream can also keep a check on the water from its boundaries into Indian regions and can even threaten India if the need be.

Pakistan admits openly that a military attack from India would be better than it stopping the flow of the Indus River. The Indian government, however, has kept the half part of the truth in darkness.

We all know that India itself is not much behind to face a water crisis. The underground water level has already depleted and can decrease further to reach zero. Also, the privatization of water has brought inequalities in the accessibility of fresh drinking water, which further showcases the Indian water situation.

So two countries, which have been rival of each other since the day of their independence, and which are already short of water resources at their own levels, if go to war with each other over water, it will be bound to be the biggest and most devastating.