Politics of hate_ Auther –                    Aisha Khan

The Indus Waters Treaty, a time-tested agreement crafted in 1960, is now skating on thin ice amid the growing tide of hate politics and aggressive nationalism. Once a symbol of cooperation between two hostile neighbours, the treaty now finds itself in stormy waters. What started as technical disputes over hydroelectric projects on shared rivers has spiraled into a full-blown diplomatic deadlock. India’s hard-nosed approach, laced with post-2014 populist fervour, has soured ties even further. Accusations, retaliatory threats, and unilateral actions have muddied the waters beyond repair, with both countries using water as a political bludgeon instead of a shared resource.

The treaty’s mechanisms, like neutral experts and arbitration courts, have been pushed to their limits, only to expose the deeper rot—decades of animosity steeped in mistrust and political grandstanding. From the Baglihar and Kishenganga dam disputes to India’s recent suspension of the treaty, it’s clear that the politics of hate is bleeding into water diplomacy. The deeper concern is not jurisdictional overlap but the dangerous shift in intent: using every disagreement as a tool for retaliation. With passions boiling over, the two nuclear powers teeter on the edge. Unless they shake hands on truth and reconciliation, the water that once connected them may well drown any hope for peace.

Overview:

This article dissects the slow unravelling of the Indus Waters Treaty due to geopolitical tensions between Pakistan and India. It shows how a functional water-sharing agreement has turned into a victim of hyper-nationalism, mutual distrust, and regional hostility. It also highlights the need for both countries to shift from muscle-flexing to mutual cooperation, especially in a climate-stressed future.

NOTES:

The article demonstrates how water diplomacy is intricately tied to national security, political ideology, and post-colonial conflicts. The Indus Waters Treaty is a recurring topic in essays and interviews, particularly in the context of Indo-Pak relations, climate policy, and regional stability. This article also reflects the broader global trend of nations turning inward and adopting aggressive foreign policies, making it a key piece for comparative international analysis.

Related CSS Syllabus Topics:

• Pakistan Affairs: Pakistan-India water disputes, post-2019 relations
• International Relations: Treaty law, international dispute resolution
• Current Affairs: Climate change, regional politics, populism
• Environmental Science (optional subject): Hydropolitics and resource management

Notes for Beginners:

The Indus Waters Treaty is a 1960 water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan. It was designed to avoid conflicts over rivers that both countries share, like the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum. However, tensions over dam projects and political disputes have put the treaty under pressure. For example, India built the Kishenganga Dam and Pakistan objected to its water diversion. In response, neutral experts and international courts were brought in to settle the issue. But when India suspended the treaty in recent years, it signalled a move from dialogue to defiance. Such actions are dangerous, especially when both countries are nuclear-armed and facing water scarcity.

Facts and Figures:

• The IWT was signed in 1960 with World Bank support.
• It survived wars in 1965, 1971, and 1999.
• Kishenganga project diverts 9 cubic metres of water per second.
• Disputes began to intensify after the Pulwama incident in 2019.
• In 2025, both the Court of Arbitration and a neutral expert ruled on the same issue, showing a parallel legal struggle.

In a nutshell, the cracks in the Indus Waters Treaty aren’t just technical; they’re deeply political and emotional. With hate politics muddying the waters, both countries risk plunging into deeper conflict. Instead of weaponising water, they must treat it as a bridge for peace. Dialogue, not demagoguery, must steer the course. The rivers that flow between us should not carry bitterness but a shared hope for survival in a climate-stricken world.