BY- SONALI SINGH

EMAIL- shonalisingh@[Link]

HYDRO-POLITICS BETWEEN INDIA AND

PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF NORTHWEST PROVINCE
Hydropolitics refers to the politics surrounding the access, control, and management of water
resources, particularly in regions where water is scarce or shared across borders.
Hydropolitics revolves around aspects like transboundary water conflicts, water as a
geopolitical tool, climate change, water security, and national stability. Water is a
strategic natural resource, and scarcity of potable water is a frequent contributor to political
conflicts throughout the world.
NORTHWEST FRONTIER PROVINCE –
The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) was a historical administrative region of
British India, now a region of Pakistan. Established in 1901 during British colonial rule, it
was carved out of the Punjab province to better manage the Pashtun tribal areas along the
border with Afghanistan. The province was strategically significant due to its location along
the Durand Line, the boundary between British India and Afghanistan. After Pakistan's
independence in 1947, NWFP became one of its four provinces, playing a crucial role in
national politics and security, especially due to its proximity to Afghanistan. In 2010, through
the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the province was officially renamed Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) to better reflect the identity of its people. NWFP is home to major
rivers, including the Indus, Kabul, Swat, and Kunhar Rivers. The province relies heavily
on the Indus River and its tributaries for irrigation, hydropower, and drinking water, making
water management a critical issue. KPK has historically contested water distribution under
the Indus Waters Treaty and the Water Apportionment Accord (WAA)of 1991, arguing for a
fairer share of resources, especially regarding the Tarbela Dam (the largest earth and rock-
filled dam in the world). Additionally, tensions arise between upstream and downstream
users, with concerns over water diversion and storage projects. The region's mountainous
terrain and climate variability further complicate water security, influencing both local and
national hydropolitical dynamics.

Water usage in Pakistan (NWFP) –

Pakistan, mostly an arid and semi-arid geographic area, harbours significant surface and
groundwater resources vital for its sustenance. The nation heavily relies on the intricate
network of the Indus River system, one of the largest contiguous irrigation networks globally.
It has 80% access of Indus river water. Despite this, Pakistan faces mounting pressures on its
water resources. The Indus River possesses numerous tributaries, some sourced from India to
the east and others from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan to the west. Pakistan is
a nation where water politics are openly practised. A significant portion of Pakistan's water
issues stems from the provincial dispute over water rights, particularly between Punjab and
Sindh. Pakistan is a low-income country, and the majority of the population is dependent on
agriculture and natural resources. Pakistan's agriculture is currently primarily dependent on
water-intensive crops such as rice, cotton, maize, and sugarcane. These crops require
extensive irrigation systems in addition to consuming a lot of water. In comparison to most
other irrigation-dependent nations, Pakistan currently has a storage capacity of only 15
million-acre feet (MAF), or roughly 13% of the annual flow of its rivers. Even this capacity is
in grave danger due to the rapid depletion of storage capacity in Pakistan's major dams
caused by sediment build-up. Pakistan faces a critical water management challenge, with
significant inefficiencies in both agricultural and urban water use, leading to substantial
wastage and unsustainable utilization of its water resources.
INDUS WATER TREATY -
The Indus Water Treaty of 1960 allocates control of the three eastern rivers to India, granting
access to 20% of the water supply. These rivers include:
- Ravi
- Beas
- Sutlej
Conversely, Pakistan was granted control over the three western rivers, providing access to
80% of the water supply. These rivers comprise:
- Indus
- Chenab
- Jhelum
India, keeping in mind these allocated provisions of IWT, has developed its hydro projects in
conformity with the treaty. This is visible from the continuous and consistent water received
by Pakistan from these rivers.
India officially sent notice to Pakistan in January 2023 to modify the IWT, seeking the
‘review ’ and ‘modification’ of the treaty. Article XII (3) allows for modifications of the
treaty through a duly ratified agreement between the two governments.
 Reasons behind India’s demand to renegotiate the treaty
o India's latest notice to Pakistan on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cites
"fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances" as reasons for
reassessment.
o Concerns include changes in population demographics, environmental issues,
the need for clean energy development to meet emission targets, and the
impact of cross-border terrorism.
o The notifications come amid controversy over two Indian hydro power
projects in Jammu & Kashmir — Kishanganga and Ratle — which Pakistan
claims violate the IWT.
 These projects are "run-of-the-river" and generate electricity without
obstructing river flow.
As per the IWT agreement, India agreed to give an 80% share of the Indus River basin to
Pakistan. Pakistan still failed to properly manage and utilize its water potential.

HYDROPOLITICS BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN –

The waters of nine rivers are shared by Pakistan and Afghanistan, but no agreement on how
to co-operatively manage and administer the shared water resources has been reached. This
might turn into a significant problem since ongoing irrigation and power projects in
Afghanistan's upstream regions, particularly those that use water from the Kabul River Basin
(KRB), could affect Pakistan's downstream water flow. Kabul River, which later joins the
Indus River, is one of the most important rivers and a potential source of hydropower for both
countries. Similar to the Chitral River, any diversion on Pakistan's side of the basin may have
a detrimental effect on the inhabitants residing on Afghanistan's side of the basin.
The Kabul River, conversely, is fundamental to meeting the demands for irrigation, potable
water, and power in KPK, the northwestern region of Pakistan. The river irrigates three
districts of this fertile region – providing 85% of irrigation in Charsada, 80% in Peshawar,
and 47.5% in Nowshera – and is the sole source of drinking water for millions of Pakistanis
living around the basin.
Since Pakistan is using a major portion of Kabul's river water resources, the country may face
the risk of losing access to water as Afghanistan plans and develops new dams and irrigation
infrastructure. The unilateral development of a shared river basin by an upper riparian
(Afghanistan) has the potential to harm the quantity and quality of river flows to the
downstream riparian (Pakistan). Alteration in the freshwater flow to Pakistan could have
adverse impacts on the livelihoods of much of the rural population. The Kabul River Treaty
was proposed in 2003, but Afghanistan declined due to a lack of technical and financial
capacities. The World Bank also offered to arbitrate a dialogue over water issues between
Afghanistan and Pakistan but failed due to Afghan officials’ refusal to collaborate or share
data. Since Afghanistan was not able to develop its own water infrastructure on its own, India
lent financial and technical help to its northwestern neighbour. In February 2021, the
government of India signed a 236-million-USD deal to build the Shahtoot Dam in Kabul,
which will provide fresh drinking water for roughly 2 million residents and support irrigation
efforts across Afghanistan. However, this ambitious development is fuelling fears
downstream in Pakistan that the new dam will alter the flow of the Kabul River and reduce
the water flows into Pakistan, which could severely limit the country's future access to water.

SHORTCOMINGS –
 Water management - The world's most extensive contiguous irrigation system, the
Indus Basin Irrigation System, provides essential irrigation to the agricultural sectors
of Pakistan. The 2018 National Water Policy states that more than 50% of canal water
diverted from the Indus system does not reach the fields because of the inefficiency of
the irrigation system. Another aspect is the increasing water pollution in Pakistan.
Water Pollution: According to UNICEF, water-related infections in the regions of
Pakistan. Among these regions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) is also severely
 affected. Almost 46% of the KPK population is dependent on the polluted water
sources that cause a high risk of waterborne infections.
 Protest in Gilgit Baltistan due to interference of China - The dam construction
project Daimar- Bhasna Dam influenced by China ostensibly demonstrates Pakistan's
inability to make its own investments to properly utilize hydropower in its provinces.
The residents of Gilgit-Baltistan protested against the biased policies in Chinese-
funded dam projects in Gilgit. People in Gilgit assert that Pakistan and China are
occupying their green pastures in the name of dam construction and mining activities
without providing compensation. Pakistan is reportedly submerging the fertile lands
of Diamer for energy generation purposes, thereby depriving locals of employment
opportunities and livelihoods. They further expressed resentment that Pakistan is
sacrificing the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure energy supply to factories in Punjab.
Local residents regularly protest against the establishment; however, the Pakistani
military reportedly employs various means to suppress the voices of Gilgit-Baltistan
inhabitants.

CONCLUSION - In conclusion, the hydropolitics between India and Pakistan, particularly

in the context of the Northwest Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), reveal a
complex web of challenges and opportunities. The Indus Water Treaty, while providing a
framework for water sharing, faces mounting pressures due to changing demographics,
environmental concerns, and geopolitical tensions. Pakistan's water management issues,
aggravated by inefficient irrigation practices and rapid population growth, underscore the
urgent need for sustainable solutions. The situation is further complicated by the emerging
hydropolitical dynamics between Afghanistan and Pakistan, centered around the Kabul River
Basin. As Afghanistan develops its water infrastructure with support from countries like
India, Pakistan faces potential risks to its water security in the northwestern region. Moving
forward, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize cooperative water management,
invest in efficient irrigation systems, and address pollution concerns. Also, in the future, it
becomes important to depoliticalize the situation as the emerging climate change factors and
lack of fresh water availability can be very challenging. The future of regional stability and
prosperity hinges on the ability of these nations to navigate the complex hydropolitical
landscape.

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