The Weaponization of Water: Hydro-Politicsand Security Challenges in South Asia

In this commentary, BIPSS Research Intern Tiva Tasha discusses how rivers in the region have moved beyond their role as sources of life to become instruments of strategic influence. Focusing on shared waterways such as the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Teesta, it explains how control by upstream states can shape conditions for those downstream, intensifying rivalries between India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China. The research underscores how climate change through melting glaciers, shifting monsoon patterns, and extreme weather worsens shortages, threatens livelihoods, and heightens the potential for disputes. It emphasizes that without stronger regional cooperation, transparent agreements, and adaptation strategies, South Asia may face escalating tensions, with water security emerging as a critical factor for lasting peace and stability.