Impact of Climate Change on Border Disputes: A Case Study of Pakistan-India Conflict

Abstract

In international system, states have been facing another form of security threats which is commonly known as non-traditional/non-conventional security threats. One of the attentions seeking non-traditional security threat is climate change. This phenomenon has been deteriorating the relations amongst/between states. Climate change can not be cured by efforts of just one or group of states. All the states should pay equal attention to eradicate such menace. There are certain regional and international forums, which particularly have been working on the mitigation of affects of climate change on state’s relations. Climate change has been escalating the conflict between Pakistan and India. Due to climate change, irregularity in glacier melting, construction of damps, violation of treaty of world bank (water crisis treaty) further adding fuel to border disputes between both states. Pakistan and India also joined the conference of party (COP) on climate change but still needs attention to resolve the issues caused by climate change. This study investigates that how climate change impact border disputes between Pakistan and India? To find out answer to this question the scholar has used qualitative method and it is found that climate change has intensified the relations between both neighboring countries by provoking treaty violations, dams’ politics and water scarcity, in this manner deteriorating mutual skirmish in spite of international mitigation efforts.

Keywords: Climate Change, Border Disputes, India and Pakistan