While the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960 is more of a water distribution treaty rather than a water sharing one, it has provided a longstanding framework for two neighbouring rival nations to share the transborder rivers emerging out of the Himalayan glaciers. At the time when this treaty was inked, water flowing through the six Indus tributaries was plentiful, and pollution or climate change were not considered major problems.

Over time, however, this treaty has come under major stress not only due to its inability to contend with ecological or climate related stresses, but due to the insatiable demand for water and hydroelectricity by the burgeoning populations on both sides of the tense border.

As an upper riparian state, India has threatened to weaponise water following recurrent conflicts with Pakistan. Disputes over Indian plans to damn the three western rivers allocated to Pakistan have also been growing.

Last year, India informed Pakistan that it wanted to renegotiate the terms of the IWT. The latest cross-border skirmishes........

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