Hydro-Diplomacy: Preventing Water War Between Nuclear-Armed Pakistan and India (HB)

Description

About the Book

This book traces the fluctuations and challenges in transboundary water management between Pakistan and India since their independence in 1947. It was first published in 2018 as a clarion call for the use of hydro-diplomacy to address water disputes between Pakistan and India before they could escalate into a major conflict. The book warned that unresolved water issues could become a dangerous flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with catastrophic consequences not only for the region but for humanity at large. Just seven years later, that warning became a grim reality. In May 2025, war broke out between Pakistan and India, with water disputes emerging as one of the principal causes. On April 24, 2025, India unilaterally announced it was suspending the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 – an action that served as a prelude to the full-fledged conflict. The war quickly escalated toward the brink of nuclear exchange before it was “paused” following US intervention. Yet the threat of renewed hostilities remains ever-present. In hindsight, few could have imagined that the book’s predictions would come true so swiftly. The case for hydro-diplomacy has never been more urgent. The book identifies and explains the core water-related disputes and presents practical, actionable proposals for resolving them through diplomatic means. It is designed to give readers – from policymakers to scholars and concerned citizens – a concise understanding of the issues and a strategic framework for achieving peaceful outcomes. The value of this book lies in its potential to guide governments, international organizations, UN bodies, financial institutions, think tanks, academics, and peace advocates toward meaningful, peaceful engagement on transboundary water challenges. By offering innovative and non-traditional ideas –moving beyond entrenched national positions – it aims to stimulate further thinking and dialogue. This book is not just a warning; it is a roadmap for peace.

About the Author

Ashfaq Mahmood, as federal secretary for Water and Power, Government of Pakistan, was responsible for addressing international trans-boundary waters issues, interprovincial water sharing, overseeing relevant institutions including Pakistan Commission for Indus Waters (PCIW), Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan. He had also been the Co-Chair of the Trilateral Dialogue between Pakistan, Afghanistan and US on Water Shed Management and Irrigation Technologies, Advisor to IUCN on Transboundary Issues and Hydro-diplomacy. He is a member of a number of Think Tanks.

During 2004-07 he led Pakistan’s team for talks with India on several water issues and for proceedings before the Neutral Expert for settling the dispute between the two countries in relation with the Baglihar Hydro Electric Plant. He was also involved in the preparation of the case on the issue of Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant which was subsequently adjudicated by the Court of Arbitration (CoA).