Water is very precious. This may come as a surprise as over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by bodies of water and 60% of the human body is made up of the stuff. The amount of water we can currently harness for civilization to survive given current technology, however, is extremely little: about 3% of Earth's water is fresh, and an even smaller fraction is readily usable (the rest is in ice caps and glaciers, which may melt at an accelerated rate due to climate change and cause dramatic changes in the availability of water). As populations continue to increase, so does water stress, as there are simply a greater number of people in need of a limited resource; the word "need" is key here, as civilization cannot survive without a constant and ample water supply, making conflict over water inevitable.

The sustainable use, planning and development of water resources is a global challenge of enormous proportions: the consequences of poorly distributed water will necessarily result in violent conflict, unprecedented ecological damage and the loss of human life. Transboundary cooperation is essential in the peaceful resolution of water distribution issues, and this is exactly what is lacking between Pakistan and India, two nuclear powers with a bitter history of conflict. The world cannot afford to ignore the water woes of Pakistan -- failure to resolve water issues with its neighbor, whom Pakistan accuses of violating a water treaty between the two countries signed in 1960, could result in war.

Here's a little history. Pakistan and India gained independence from British rule in 1947. At the stroke of a British pen, the headwaters of Pakistan's most important river, the Indus, amongst others, became a part of other countries. Before entering Pakistani territory, these rivers flow through the disputed territories of Jammu & Kashmir, which have been fiercely contested by both countries and are now largely administered by India. In 1960, Pakistan turned to The World Bank to broker a deal between the two countries - and thus the Indus Waters Treaty (http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTSOUTHASIA/Resources/223497-1105737253588/IndusWatersTreaty1960.pdf) was born, giving Pakistan the rights to the uninterrupted flow of certain rivers, including the Indus. Things between Pakistan and India, however, can never be so simple. As the rivers first flow through Indian territory, India can play the role of the "upstream riparian." There have been massive Indian projects to construct dams on the rivers before they enter Pakistan. Obviously, this worries Pakistan a lot - and it should. Pakistan claims that the construction of such dams violates the Indus Water Treaty.

Over the next few months, I will be researching this issue in greater detail, offering my insight and findings on this blog once a week. If India really is violating the Indus Waters Treaty, international action must be taken to ensure that Pakistan, already one of the most water-stressed nations on Earth, receives the water that it is entitled to. I will attempt to construct effective policy recommendations that can be implemented to diffuse this pressing issue. I welcome your input.