Melting Glaciers and the Indus Water Treaty: A Looming Crisis

Abstract

The Indus Waters Treaty was created in 1960 to allocate water between India and Pakistan. Climate change was not considered then, but hydrology and conflict resolution have progressed. Climate change has altered water availability, including volume, timing, frequency, and quality. Population growth, urbanization,and climatic events have impacted Pakistan’s water supply. This tension could escalate into conflict without addressing the treaty’s knowledge and practice gaps. Advancements in transboundary watercourse management, environmental monitoring, and data acquisition are necessary. Water remains a source of tension, and prompt action is needed to ensure sustainable water resource management. One possible solution to this issue is to integrate modern knowledge on climate change into the IWT and harmonize it with the current set of international water laws and regulations. Hence, it is imperative to formulate a framework enabling both countries to reach a consensus and introduce climate change-related clauses and provisions into the IWT.