Thirsty Nations, From Conflict to Cooperation: Navigating the Climate Change Implications on Pak-Afghan Hydro-Politics

Abstract

The security landscape is constantly evolving, encompassing a broader range of non-traditional threats such as environmental, human, food, health, and social security. Water security and related environmental and social threats are significant in this expanded understanding of security. Globalization, urbanization, industrialization, population growth, and the depletion of natural resources pose more realistic risks than conventional military threats. Environmental issues can lead to conflicts between national and local stakeholders, as warned by Ismael Serra Gildin, former Vice President of the World Bank. This article aims to consider water as a non-traditional security threat and explore its impact on Pak-Afghan relations by analyzing water politics' influence and its economic implications for both states. By bridging hydro politics and regional implications, this study paves the way for future research to incorporate the climate perspective in understanding state relations, which is crucial in the current context.