The Politics of Water in South Asia: The Case of the Indus Waters Treaty

Because water could be a major source of future conflicts among states (what some have called the coming of the "water wars"), it is extremely important that steps be taken to resolve these issues and ensure greater access to water. Such efforts are especially needed in South Asia. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is an agreement between India and Pakistan to share the waters of the Indus river system that the two countries signed in 1960. The IWT is also one of the few such international agreements on the sharing of river waters that has been a success, despite the ongoing rivalry between India and Pakistan. This paper lays out a role for U.S. policy to help resolve the current dispute between India and Pakistan over the IWT, and explains how it can be used to help achieve larger and broader U.S. policy goals. The lack of sufficient mutual trust among the main partners to the treaty requires the intervention of a third party that is not perceived as biased and yet can be an effective mediator. The paper argues that this policy of intervention is in alignment with U.S. interests and will be a step toward meeting the U.S. goal of stability in this volatile region.